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TRAVELS 

IN THE 

FRENCH REPUBLIC: 

CONTAINING 

A CIRCUMSTANTIAL VIEW 

OF THE 

PRESENT ST4TE OF LEARNING, 

THE 

ARTS, MANUFACTUPwES, LEARNED SOCIETIES, 

MANNERS, &C. 

IN THAT COUNTRY, ^ 



f>, 



/ 



BY THOMAS BYGGE, 

PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICAL ASTRONOxMY IN THE 
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN, LATE COMMIS- 
SIONER FROxM DENMARK TO THE NATIONAL 
INSTITUTE, AND MEMBER OF SEVERAL- 
LEARNED SOCIETIES AND ACA- 
DEMIES OF SCIENCES. 



TRANSLATED FROM THE DANISH 

BY 

JOHN JONES, LL.D. 




Urnifccn: 

Printed by T. Gi'.let, Saliibury-Square, 

FOR R.PHILLIPS, NO. 71, ST. paul'3-church-yard$ 

SOLD BY T. HURST, PATER NOSTER- ROW } BY 

CARPENTER AND CO. OLD BOND-STREETj 

AND BY ALL KOOKSELLERS. 

1801. 



[Price Six Shillings in Boards. ] 



THE 



RANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



&©*X-®< 



THE internal ftate of France is fo- 
little known in this country, that 
any work which offers candid information 
on that fubject, cannot fail to be acceptable 
to the public. In this view, it is prefumed, 
that a tranflation of Professor Bygge's 
late performance will meet with that fa- 
vourable reception, which the tranflator 
will venture to fay it deferves, from the ge- 
nerality of Englifh readers. The Situation 
of the author as a public comrnilSoner 
A 2- from 



IV TRANSLATORS PREFACE. 

from a neutral ftate, afforded him ample 
opportunities of information, and his ability 
to improve thofe opportunities will, it is be- 
lieved, be apparent to every ordinary reader 
of the following pages; while the fidelity^ 
or at leaf! the confiftency. of his defcrip- 
lions, and the candour of his remarks, will 
be abundantly evident to the more attentive 
and intelligent. His reflections appear to 
be dictated by penetration, impartiality, and 
rational difcrimination. He approves, cen- 
fures, or fufpends his judgment, like an 
honeft, enlightened, and cautious man, 
who is a flranger to oftentation, and ac- 
cuftomed to profound views of fcience and 
of human nature ; and his work, though 
written in a popular ftyle, and for general 
perufal, exhibits evident traces of the hand 
of a mailer. 

The 



TRANSLATOR S PREFACE. V 

The manner in which the tranflation has 
been executed,- muft be left to the deciiion 
of thofe who are acquainted with the fub- 
jects of the work, and with the language 
in which it was written. The translator 
can only fay,, that he has done his utmoft to 
convey the fenfe of the original in a pure 
Englifh idiom. 

As his diftance from town rendered the 
CorredHon of the work extremely inconve- 
nient to him, that tafk has been performed, 
with obvious ability, by Dr. William 
Dickson*, to whom the work is alio in- 
debted for the notes, marked Trari/lator^ 

* Author of Letters en Slavery, and other per- 
formances, and well known for his early and perfe- 
vering exertions ia favour of the abolition of rJp<s 
r e Trade, 

A 3 which 



Vt translator's preface. 

which, it is believed, will be found valu- 
able additions to the text. 

The curiofity which irroft perfons feel to 
know fomething of the lives and charadters 
of the authors whofe works they perufe, has 
induced him to lay before the reader of 
the prefent volume the following accurate 
memoirs* 

Thomas Bygge, profeflbr of mathe- 
matics and aftronom-y in the univerfity cf 
Copenhagen, and for the Royal Navy, and 
member of feveral learned focietics and 
academies of -faiences, is, fince the death 
of Tycho Brahe, and the rcftoration of 
adronomy in Denmark, the eighth aflro- 
nomer in fucceflion, of the royal obferva- 
tory at Copenhagen. After the defl ruc- 
tion of Tycjio's obfervatory. qv the ifland 



translator's preface. vii 

ofHuen, ChriftianlV. in the year l632, 
ere6ted in his capital a new and fiately 
Uranienburr. It is a tower one hundred 
and twenty Rhineland feet in height,'* 
eonftrudied with great ftrength and foli- 
dity, and with much architectural fkill. 
From the fummit of the building there is 
a very, fine profpect. The winding ftair- 
cafe which leads to it, forms with the 
horizon an angle of only 5| degrees, and 
makes an afcent fo commodious and eafjy 
that, in the year J/16, the Czar Peter the 
Great feveral times rode up it, and his 
conlbrt, the Emprefs Catharine, drove up 
and down in a coach and fix. 

Chijilan Sever in LongomontaruiSy the pTu- 
pil of Tycho Brahe 5 was the firft aftrp- 
nomer appointed to fuperinteud this new 



* 



Nearly 124 feet Englifli. 



A 4 rovai 



Vlli *RANSLATOK 5 PEEFACE, 

royal obfervatory: he died in 1647, and 
was fucceeded in his office by George 
Fromm, who did not long enjoy it; as ill 
1651 he made room for William Lange. 
After his deceafe, the celebrated Olaus 
Romer, whofe merit foreign nations, and 
eipecially the French, well knew how to 
appreciate, was recalled from Paris. He 
held the pod of aftronomer for thirty years: 
but unfortunately a great part of his valu- 
able obfervations and manufcripts were loft 
in the great fire, in the year 1728, which 
laid in afhes the obfervatory, and almoft 
the whole city of Copenhagen. 

Romer died on the 19th of September, 
1710, and his place was fupplied for a fhort 
time by Lawrence Shive, one of his agro- 
nomical affiftants, who did not furvive him 
longer than the year 17H,- To him fuc- 
ceeded 



TRANSLATORS PREFACE. IX 

ceeded Peter Horrebow, a pupil of Romer's : 
through his endeavours, the obferyatory, 
which had been burnt down, was rebuilt, 
and new inftruments procured. When far 
advanced in years, he refigned his place in 
1753, to his fon Chriftian Horrebow, who 
in 1777) was fucceeded by Thomas Bygge, 
the fubject of the prefent memoirs. 

Through the zeal and activity of Pro- 
feflbrByggd, the obfervatory again under- 
went a thorough repair in 1780, and was 
enriched with new inftruments, fuch as 
the prefent ftate of the fciences required, 
A circumftantial account of thefe may be 
feen in a work publifhed at Copenhagen, 
entitled i ( Obferv at tones AJlronomca^ annls 
1781, 1782, 1783, infiitut<e> in Obfervatorio 
Regio Haunienfi" &c. 

A 5 Thomas 



X TRANSLATOR S PREFACE, 

Thomas Bygge holds a diftinguifhed 
rank, not only among the moft ufeful 
aftronomers of Europe-, but likewife among 
the molt active promoters of the fcience of 
geography. He took an a&ive eflential' 
part in compiling the excellent and beau- 
tiful maps, pubii fhed by the royal aca- 
demy of fciences at Copenhagen. — When* 
the defign of preparing thefe maps was 
formed, ProfeiLr Bygge was appointed 
the tiril trigonometrical and aftronomicaF 
obferver. But thefe are not the only fer- 
vices he has rendered to geography, in: 
a more extenfive degree has he contri- 
buted to the advancement of that fcience, 
by forming under his care a number of 
young men. Soeberg, the brothers Wibe, 
D'Aubert, Rich, Piht, Fievog, Ginge, En- 
gclhart, &c names eminent in the annals 
of aftronomy, emerged from the fchool of 

%ge. 



TRANSLATORS PREFACE. Xl 

Bygge. A number of young officers in 
theDanifh navy and army enjoyed Bygge's, 
inftructions in practical aftronomy, and 
under him acquired that knpwledge which 
enabled them to furnifh many ufeful and 
valuable obfervations from Norway, Ice- 
land, Greenland, and the Eaft and Weft 
Indies and thereby improved the defective 
geography of thofe regions, 

None of Bygge's predecefibrs, fo imme- 
diately and directly as he, applied aftronomy 
to the benefit of his country, and to the 
advancement of navigation. By his very 
accurate menfurations, . a fairer bafis j of 
contribution, .new calculations, and jufter 
fifcal regulations were eftabli(hec!, : which, 
being more accurately proportioned to the 
poffeiiions of the different contributors,, 
many errors and defers in political oeco- 
A 6 noaiy 



^_ . » 



Xil TRANSLATOR S PREFACE. 

nomy, and innumerable litigations con- 
cerning landed property were thereby pre- 
vented. He alfo determined and laid 
down with the greateft care, the true po- 
rtion of all the coafts, harbours, iflands, 
rocks, and fand-banks in the Belts, and 
the Categate, which are very dangerous to 
fhips, and were before partly unknown; 
and thus he rendered the navigation of the 
Danifh feas more fecure. 



Yarmouth, JOHN JONES. 

January 1801, 



CONTENTS. 



se-54-e« 



LETTER I. 

JOURNEY from Copenhagen to Ahona.—The 
Author's Objeft to confer with the French Com* 
miffaries at Paris, on the Uniformity of Weights 
and Meajures — Excellent Roads and Bridges — • 
Colony of Moravians — Excellent Regulations— 
Altona thrives by the War — Villas, Pleafure 
Grounds^ &c. — Pointed and blunt cleclric Con- 
duclors compared — Curious Tide-Machine—* 
Surprifng Chemical Difcovery — Agricultural 
Improvements — Philofophical Apparatus 

Page I 

LETTER II. 

Journey from Altona, through Ofnaburg and 
Munfter, to Wefel. — Sluices — Roads — Cottages 
of the Boors — Soil — Difagreeable Travelling 
in the Hanoverian Territory — Interrogations 
of the PruJJian Guard— Plantations of Wood 
in Hanover — PruJJian Soldier very feverely 
^unified for begging— Peaf ants uncomfortably 

Jituated 



XIV CONTENTS. 

Jitiuited — Ofnaburg a dirty Place — Hanover 
little Improved for the lafi T went y -two Years* 
i — Denmark very viuch> owing to the excellent 
Meafures of its Government — The Bonds of 
Servitude relaxed—Yet agricultural Improve- 
ments not complete — Recapitulation of them — 
Manufacture of Linen and Tobacco — Coal- 
Pits worked by the Crown — Fine Valley from 
Lengerick' to Murtjler—Mzoijler a neat Town 
— Super ftltl on of the Inhabitants — Feudal Syj- 
tern fill opprcjfcs Ofnaburg and Munfler — 
Boors inferable Slaves — Feeble Manufactures 
at Dorfteln — Convcrfation with Emigrants of' 
Hank - - Page -16 • 

LETTER III.. 

Journey from Wefcl acrofs the Rhine, and through 
Part of Belgium to BruJJels. — JVefel, a neat 
Town — Pafs demanded — Fly Boat on the 
Rhine, defcribcd — French Officers reported to 
be rude, but found civil — Guelder n, a fmall 
genteel Town, opprcjfed by the French — Prlcfts 
forbidden to hep the ufeful rcgifer of Births> 
&c. — Fine Plantations of wood, and other 
Improvements — Curious Sluice uniting the 
Mat* with two other Rivers — Clei/icrs • at 
Maa.fyk fold or converted into Barracks — ■ 

Crucifix 



CONTENTS. XT 

■ Crucifixes^ &c. carried off— Fine Chimes, efpe- 
tially at Tirlemont — Country fill exhibits- re- 
mains of Profpcrity> and why — Louvain Uni- 
verfty, &c. diffolved — Bitter Complaints there 
of French Imp of s, which are not attended to 
—Caufezvays, or paved Boa as , defcribed. 

Page 36- 

LETTER IV. 

Stay in BruJJels, and Journey thence to Paris ;— 
BruJJels defcribed — The Confeil Souverain plun- 
dered — The Viceroy's Palace convened into a 
Central School — Its Claffes — Public Library 
— Churches defp oiled — Manufactures — Travel- 
ling Carriages drawn by Dogs — Belgians dif- 
like the New Gov eminent , and why — At Mens 

. an Altar expofedto Sale— Coal Pits — Jemappe 
— Good, Cultivation — Boads neglecled — Valen- 
ciennes not repaired fine e the Siege — Ilofi- of 
Beggars there, and why — A Shoemaker the 
Chief of the Municipality at Valenciennes- 
French Villages mean- and poor — Boys and 
Girls reaping the Harvef, and why — Three 
and four wheeled Carts compared — Ilorfes 
cruelly treated in-. France — Roads negleclecU 
though Tolls high — BoucJiain afrong but mean 
Place — Cambray mat and clean — French Pofs 

properly 



£Vl CONTENTS. 

. properly regulated — Chantilly plundered — Ap- 
. preach to Paris charming - 51 

LETTER V. 

Courfe of Injlruclion in the Primary ', Central, 
and Polytechnic Schools. — Primary Schools vjell 
conduced in Paris, but not in the Country— 
The Revolution fubverted the bejl old Inflitu- 
lions — Normal Schools — Fault in conducting 
them — Sciences taught in them — Journal of the 
Letlures and Debates in them — Dijfolution of 
them- — Regulations of the Central Schools — 
School of the Four Nations — Scientific Courfes- 
in it — Second and third Cmtral Schools* — Lift 
of Departments with and without Central 
Schools — Defecls in thofe already ejlablijlied — 
The French JJiew no Wifh to learn foreign Lan- 
guages — Morality and Geography not taught in' 
the Central Schools — Ancient Literature little 
attended to in them — The Pupils in them but 
fuperficially inftrucled — Some of the Teachers 
ill qualified — Polytechnic School — Courfe of 
Study in it — Philofophical Apparatus, Library, 
and Collection of Models belonging to it— Pub « 
lie Examination of the Students Page 10 



CONTENTS. XVII 



LETTER VI. 



Schools for Public Services, viz, for the Gonjlruc* 
tion of Roads and Bridges, for Miner alogy y 
Geography, Ship Building? Artillery \ Fortifi- 
cation, Navigation, &c. — School Houfe for* 
me fly a Palace — Col legion of Models — Li- 
brary — Courfe of Study and Salary of the Stu- 
dents — Miner a logical School and Colleclion-— 
Profejfors— -Laboratory — Learned Ladies, not 
always pretty and neat — Gravimeter, not equal 
to a good Hydrofiatic Balance — Infirument for 
meafuring the Angles of Cryftals—~Inftrument 
for afcertaining fmall -Degrees of Magnet ij ni 
and Eledrichy — Geographical School — School 
for Naval Architecture — Marine JDepofitory— 
Artillery Schools — Fortification School— Marine 
School. - - Page 112 

LETTER VII. 

Schools for Medicine, Pharmacy, and the Fine 
Arts — The French College — Medical School — • 
Colleclions of anatomical Preparations, &c— 
Philofophical Apparatus- — Library — Amphi- 
theatre — Letlures — Students from one Thoufand 
to one Thoufand two Hundred — Free School 

for. 



XVUl CONTENTS. 

for Pharmacy — Military Hofpital — Leclure: 
there — Free School for Painting — National 
School for Architecture — French College — Lec- 
tures there — Public AJfembly of it, and Pro- 
cee dings on the Occafon—Hint to Ladies to 
make themfelves ufsful, by vifting and attend^ 
ing the Sick - - Page 132 

LETTER VIII. 

The National Mufcum of Natural Hi/lory. — Li* 
brary, Menagerie, tsfc. of this Mufcum-*-Its 
Botanic Garden — Engl ft faid to have feized 
Baudouin } s Collection, which their Government 
had promifed to protecl — Gallery for Natural 
Hijlory — Vaillant's frugal Prefeni to the Mu- 
fcum — Diamond Jlolen from ih — Collection of 
Quadrupedes, Zebra, Elephant, &c. — Direc- 
torial Palace — Collection of Skeletons — Library 

. of Botany, isfc. — Paintings and Drawings of' 
Animals and Plants — -Menagerie for wild and' 
tame Animals — Leclure Room, a real Amphi- 
theatre — Lc ^hirers a fid Officers— Statues of 
lAnntvus and Bujjon — fVatiton Outrages of 
the Zlob at the Revolution* — Dead dag kj^— 
Body of Turennei ft ill und&ayed; jliamsfnlly 
expofed — Chefs fill unpacked, fll:d with Gu- 
7i fiics from the conqutjr.d Gpu&fri ~>\ l ; it 



CONTENTS* XIX 



LETTER IX. 



The Central Mu [cum for Arts at Paris, and the 
Mu f cum for the French School at V erf allies. — 
The Central Mufeum, a general Colletlioyi of 
Statues, Paintings, &c. — Entrance — Gallery 
$f Apollo — Pitlure Gallery five hundred Feet 
long — Piclures and Statues from Italy, greatly 
injured on the Journey — Catalogues of Paint- 
ings brought from Italy,' &c. zvhich greatly 
exceeded the Author's Expeclations — Saloon of 
Lacoon to be prepared — Exhibition of the 
Works of French Painters, Statuaries, Draught f 
men, and Engravers now living — General Mu- 
feum for French Painting.. Page 161 

LETTER X; 

Of the National Obfcrvatory at Paris — The 
Danes firjl erecled an Obfervatory — The 
Parifan Obfervatory, as a Building — Was 
decaying before the Revolution — Injured dur- 
ing the Reign of Terrorifm — J/. Jeaurat y _ an 
old and able Aflronomes, nozv t/iruft down into 
a Cellar, and 111 provided for — The Obfervax 
v under Repair — Aftronomical Inftruments, 
by Dolhnd, fsfc — The French have, but lately- 

ufed 



jUt CONTENTS- 

ufed tranfii Infiruments — Large Tele-cope, a 
mean Inftrumepf % and ahnoft f clefs. — Tele* 
/cope with Specula of Platina — An Achromatic, 
by Rcckcttc, far inferior to one of the fame Di- 
men/ions, by Nairne and Blunt — "The Paris Ob~ 
fervatory infei tor to thofe of Greemuich, Edin- 
burgh, Copenhagen, &V. - Page 23 x 

LETTER XL 

Account of the National Gb fervatory continued. — 
A Time Piece, by Berthoud, goes well, as do 
twelve or fourteen by Arnould — Platina well pu- 
rified, makes excellent Specula — Story of a Rem 
fieclor of fixty Feet, with Platina Specula, a mere 
Rhodomontade — Inftruments of De la Hire, &C 
difufed, but preferved — Obfervaiions interrupted 
by the Revolution — Caffinis large Lunar Chart 
and Drawings of Lunar Macula, recovered after 
being long lofi — His reduced Lunar Chart — The 
befi is in KciW s Leftures> as improved by Lc- 
monnicr — Improvements in the Ob fervatory — Le 
Noir sTravfit hjirument defcribed — Mural S>ua- 
drants by Bird and S'fon — Agronomical Seflor, 
by Graham. - 19S 



CONTENTS. XXI 



LETTER XII. 



National Ohfervatory continued — Obfervatories of 
the Military School, or the French College, and 
of Private Perfons — Inflruments for afcertain- 
iig the magnetical Variation — Caves of the' Oh- 
fervatory defcribed— Magnetical Variation and 
Temperature in them — Searched for Arms and 
Ariftocrats — Ohfervatory advertifed for Sale — 
Caffini driven from it, and novj in poor Circum- 
fiances — P latin a Specula ', by Carroche—His ex- 
cellent Achromatic— Pillars fgr the tranfit Inflru- 
ment too low — Wall of the Mural Quadrant 
fpoiled by the capricious Builder — Me chain s 
Aflronomical Labours — Bouvard's Comparifon of 
Arabian Obfervations with later ones — Defec- 
tive Organization of the National Ohfervatory — 
Telegraphs in Paris — Obfervatories at the Mili- 
tary School^ and the French College — Lalande's 
Merits not fufficiently acknowledged — Obfervato- 
ries of Mcjfier and Delambre. 231 

LETTER XIII. 

The Board of Longitude, the Board cf Geography^ 
the Rational Library, and the Libraries of the 
Afenaland the Pantheon. — The Bureau des Lon \ 

gitwln 



SXU CONTENTS. 

gitudes, injlituted in Imitation of the Britl/h 
Board of Longitude, but with ampler Powers — 
Of whom compofed — Fleurieu's large Marine At- 
las — BuJInefs of the Board of Geography — Ex- 
cellent mathematical Tables— The War deprives 
France of Men and Money— Large Maps of 
France and Denmark — Cajjini fufpccled, and his 
v Maps, &c. locked up — National Library and Its 
Regulations — Pair of Globes thirty Feet in Dia- - 
meter, an ufelefs agronomical Luxury — MS* 
Letters of Colbert , tsfc— Prints — Antiques — 
Egyptian Curiojities — Shields of Scipio and Han- 
nibal — Intaglios— Antiquities defpifed in France 
— Schools for oriental Languages— Libraries of 
the Arfenal and Pantheon — Libraries, Paintings, 
isfc. of thofe bani/hed, &c. partly dejlroyed, 
partly formed into new Collections* Page 258 

LETTER XIV. 

The National hiflitute, with an Account of its Meet- 
ings. — Academy of Sciences, &c. founded by 
Louis XIV. and Colbert— Re f pea able at the 
Revolution — National Injtitutc, founded on their 
Ruins j more comprchenfive — Its Members, Clajfes % 
Seflions, and Times of Meeting— Propofes Priz? 
£>ucftions—its Members and Pupils to travel 

for 



CONTENTS. XX1U 

for Information, at the Public Expence — Is the 
firjl learned Body in Europe — National Palace 
$f the Arts and Sciences defcribed — Fire Ej capes, 
which did not anfwer the End— -Meetings of the 
Injlitute, and Memoirs read — Minijlerial Imper- 
tinence and Partiality, in the Cafe of Bralle — Nu- 
merical Telegraph propofed — Majkelyrfs Name 
partially omitted in a Report concerning the Longi- 
tude — Excellent Pun — Mercury frozen— Severe 
Frojls at Paris — Reviews of the Injlitute, impar- 
tial and well written — Minijiers often afk the 
Opinion of the Injlitute — Its folemn Meetings — 
Artijls rewarded and crowned. — Arts and Manu- 
factures — New Animal — Bougainville' ) $ Eulogy of 
Cook, &c. — Memoirs, Publications, and Purfuits 
of the Members of the National Injlitute — The 
Author falfely acetified of calumniating that learned 
Body 285 

LETTER XV. 

The Aeroftatic School in Meudon — French Mo- 
numents — EjlablifiJiment, Officers, Pupils — De- 
fign of this Injlitution — Conte, his Invention — 
Aerojlatic Soldiers — Materials of which thoje 
Air Balloons are compofed — Mode of filling them 
— French Monuments — Such as efcaped the Fury 
*f the Populace, ordered to be collected and depo- 

and 



X xiv CONTENTS. 

fited in the/mail Augufline-Monaflery—Sahons 
Jet apart for that Purpofe—Claffification, Tajle, 
and Induftry of LeNoir — Monuments of Kings, 
Queens, State/men, Warriors, Men of Letters t 
&c. — Statues in Marble, Bronze, &c. — Names 
oftheArtiJls who- defigned and executed them— 
Some of them the boldejl and happiefl Efforts of 
Genius— Infcriptions-— Annealed Glafs-Paint- 
ing on Glafs— Churches, &£. whence they were 
ta ken — Several mutilated Pieces of Art rejlored 
— Refleclions on the Whole . 350 

LETTER XVI. 

Prefent State of the Manufaclures of France— Ex- 
hibition of various French Manufaclures, Arts, 
i£ c .—Watchwork— Artificial Black Lead Pen- 
cils— Files— Economic Stoves— Locks— Chemical 
ProduBions— Woven and Printed Tapejlry— 
Earthenware— Steel-work— Silk, Cotton, Linen, 
Leather, Sealing-wax, Chryjlal Glafs— Weights 
and Meafures—Stcrectypic Printing— Porcelain 
—Spinning Machines— Mechanical Engravings 
fie. 382 



TRAVELS TO PARIS. 



^©►^•0- 



LETTER L 

JOURNEY FROM COPENHAGEN TO ALTONA. 

The Author s Object to confer with the French 
Commiffaries at Paris, on the Uniformity 
of Weights and Meafures — Excellent Roads 
and Bridges — Colony of Moravians — Ex- 
cellent Regulations — Altona thrives by the 
War — Villas, Pleafure- Grounds, &c. — ■ 
Pointed and blunt eleflric Conductors com- 
pared — CuriousTide-Machine — Surprifing 

chemical Difcovery Agricultural Im ~ 

frovemenU — Phdofophical Apparatus. 



I 



Take up my pen to fulfil my promife. 

that I would occafionally communicate 

fuch particulars as arretted my attention in 

the courfe of my travels. You know the 

obje6l was, in purfuance of the invitation 

B held 



2 PROM COPENHAGEN 

held out by the French government to the 
allied and neutral powers, to confer witk 
the commiflaries of the Parifian National 
Inftitute, and the foreign commiflaries af- 
fembled, with a view to eflablifh a ftandard 
for the uniformity of weights and meafures. 
I do not recoiled that I (hewed my pafs, 
which I received from the French legation 
pn the occafion, through Defaugers the 
Charge d'affaires, in the abfence of the 
minifter Grouvelle. It was drawn up in the 
new French manner, and differed in two 
things from the ufual Danifh paflcs; for my 
whole perfon was minutely defrribccL and 
I was obliged to fubferibe it. Thefe pre- 
cautions were neceflary, in order to pre- 
vent the transfer of it, which is frequently 
the cafe with the ufual paflcs. The objects 
of my journey were alio fet forth in a man- 
ner honourable to myfclf, the benefit of 
which I experienced in France, where I 
was not confidercd as an ordinary traveller, 
but as one invefted with a refpe&able 
million. 

The 



TO ALTONA. $ 

The French Embaffy fent feveral notes 
to Count Bernftorff, the Secretary of State* 
to haften my departure; as it was fupp'ofed 
that the courfe of experiments had already 
commenced: I foon found, however, that 
this was not the cafe. 

On the 21 ft of July, 1798, I received 
the royal mandate relative to my journey, 
and on the 2ptb, I fet out from Copen- 
hagen : I took my way through Fiihnen to 
Middelfart. A great part of the new road 
is already completed, and the caufeway is 
excellent. Such is the fkill and experience 
of the engineers and overfeers, the abun- 
dance of good materials which offer them- 
felves on all hands in Ftihnen and the na- 
natural difpofition of the foil, that the roads 
may be rendered very durable, and eafily re- 
paired. Where they?^nzta/?nsgravelorfand, 
or fand lightly mixed with clay or mould, 
the road is in general good, but when the 
foundation is pure and ftrong clay, the froft 
or bad weather injure it, and when it thaws, 
the pavements fuffer very much. We have 
B2 a n 



4 FROM COPENHAGEN 

an inftanceof this on the road between Co- 
penhagen and Roeikilde Inn which is the 
word part; but the road from Copenhagen 
to Rorsoer is very good : yet it might be 
made better by being raifed a little higher, 
and fomewhat rounded. The bridges in 
Fiihnen over the Bekke and the Aaer, (of 
which fome are worthy of notice) are ex- 
cellently defigned and well built. Our new 
roads in Denmark are fandy, and caufe- 
ways properly fo called, that is, the foun- 
dation is compofed of fquarc flones, each 
in the form of a cheft, from one to two feet 
thick, placed at a proper diftance ; the in- 
terftices are filled up with (tones, gradually 
diminifhing in fizc as they advance ; up- 
wards; fo that the nppermott does not ex- 
ceed two inches in thicknefs. When all 
thefe have funk with their own weight, they 
are covered with gravel, to the depth uf 
from fix to eight inches. Thefe roads are 
as even as a parlour floor, and may be pitted 
with the greateft cafe and convenience. 
Moft of the roads which I have travelled 

through 



TO ALTONAi 3 

through Germany, Belgium and France, 
cannot be properly called caufeways. In 
moft places, however, bridges are very ju-r 
dicioufly erected, the want of which was 
formerly very much felt. The burgomafter 
Dickman Kolding, in my opinion, cle- 
ferves the preference in works of this kind, 
I ihould not have dwelt fo long^on this fub- 
ject, were it not that our roads in Denmark 
are generally good, and under proper regula- 
tions: Snoghoy is the only exception in the 
whole route to Hamburgh. At the former 
place, the traveller is obliged to take boat to 
crois the little belt to Kolding. 

I flattered myfelf that I (hould have an 
opportunity of feeing the colony of the 
Herrenhuters,or Moravians, in Ghriftians- 
feldt, which is become confiderable, through 
their induftry and manufactures, and above 
all, by their morality and prudent condudi; 
but I travelled through it by night, fo that 
I was deprived of that plcafure. 

I did not proceed entirely by the com- 
mon pod through Apenrade, Flenfborg, 
B 3 Slelwick, 



6 FKOM COPENHAGEN 

Slefwick, Renfborg, Remmels, Itzeboe, 
Elmfhorn, and Pinneberg. There are 
many good regulations in Holftein; and the 
traveller is called on at every poft-houfe, 
to tell in what manner he was treated by 
the pod-boy. I arrived in Altona in the 
afternoon of the 3d of Anguft. I had a 
letter of introduction to Mr. Lawaets, 
one of the Senators, who, with his worthy 
lady, received me with the utmoft polite- 
nefs. I formed an acquaintance in his 
houfe with many of the profeflbrs of the 
Gymnafium. 

Altona has profited very much by the 
prefent war, particularly during the laft 
year, infomuch that the buildings are ra- 
pidly extending to the village of Ottenfee, 
which, in refpedt to police, is fubjedt to the 
magiftrate of Altona, the reft being under 
the magiftracy of Fenneberg. The harbour 
has been rendered {o capacious, that it can 
now contain double the number of veflels 
which it formerly did ; the expence of the 
improvements having been defrayed by the 

town 



TO ALTONA. / 

town itfelf. It is well fituated for trade, and 
I hope will at all times be crowded with 
ihipping, and one day cope with its rich 
neighbour and powerful rival. The free 
exercife of public worfhip is permitted in 
Altona: the Lutherans, Catholics, Mem- 
nonifts, Jews, &o, build churches wherever 
they pleafe, and fome of them are neat 
enough. Luxury, however, has pervaded 
almoft every rank in Hamburgh, and Al- 
tona begins to be infected with the example. 
The Altonifh ladies, generally fpeaking, 
drefs with great elegance and tafte, and at 
the fame time with fuch prudence and 
oeconomy, as not to be very chargeable to 
their parents. 

It is not furprizing that the rich Ham- 
burgh merchant, whofe mind is wholly oc- 
cupied fix days in the week with mercan- 
tile fpeculations, fhould be glad on the 
feventh to efcape from his counting- houfe 
to breathe the free air, and enjoy the 
beauties of nature. The charming fituation 
of the Danifh bank of the Elbe, has in- 
B 4 duced 



8 FROM COPENHAGEN 

duced many of thofe opulent perfons to 
prefer it to. any other part of the country; 
and accordingly the plain from Altona to 
.Blaukenefe is lprinkled with villas, plea- 
fure-grounds, handfome buildings, plan- 
tations, and Englifh Gardens. That part 
of the ground which is not thus oc- 
cupied by rich individuals, is left open 
for the amufement of the middling clafs. 

On mod of thofe country - houfes 
and pleafure - grounds, electrical con- 
ductors have been erected. You know 
that Reimarus, in his laft publication on 
this fubject, has exprefsly written againfl: 
the pointed conductor, affirming that it 
was only neceflary to encompafs the build- 
ing with metallic particles fufpended or 
connected together, and that he did not fee 
the ufe of infcrting the condudtor into the 
: ground, it being fufficient, according to 
4 bim> if it touched thefurface. It is certain 
.that a houfc, inclofed in a cage of metal 
wire, plates, or bars, would be entirely 
fecure from all the effects of lightning. 

According 



TO ALTONA. Q 

According to this theory, "the conductor 
would then be rendered defenfive, and not 
offenfive: but I am not yet quite certain 
that the new fyftem fhould be preferred to 
the old one. It feems that fome are 
alarmed left the fharp pointed one fhould 
invite the electric current, which otherwife 
might pafs over the houfe without injury. 
Should the electric cloud, however, be 
charged with fuch a mafs, that the paffive 
one cannot convey it off, the confequence 
will be an explofion; but in fuch a cafe, 
the (harp pointed one would not be at- 
tended with an explofion more ftrong or 
dangerous; fo that if it did not diminifh, 
it would not increafe, the danger. A3 to 
the reft, long and certain experience can 
alone determine, which of the two ought 
to obtain the preference. All the, con- 
ductors, which I have feen in and near 
Hamburgh and Altona, are fharp pointed, 
and are inferted a few inches into the earth. 
In Hamburgh, the lightning ftruck the 
B 5 bottom 



10 FEOM CO'PEftEtA&ESf 

bottom of a houfe, which was furnifhed 
with a conductor; but from the account* 
I cannot afcertain whether or not it was 
local. It appears to me, that there mufi 
have been fome defedi in the erection of 
the condu&or, or that the houfe muft 
have been very large ; for the fecurity arif- 
ing from the pointed one, does not extend 
beyond a circle of 60 or 80 feet at fartheit. 
I next went to fee the Senator Voght's 
extenfive farm in Flothek, which is laid 
out with the grfcateft rural tafte. The 
proprietor received me with the utmoffc 
politenefs. and I was accompanied through 
the grounds by a young German, who re- 
fides under his hofpitable roof. The houfe 
is built and furnifhed with great elegance. 
There I found many choice fpecimens in 
natural hiftory, and feveral mathematical 
inftruments; among which was a machine, 
the only one of the kind I ever faw, calcu- 
lated to illuftrate experimentally the phce^ 
nomena of the tide in any place, when the 

rnoon 



TO ALTONA. 11 

moon is in the oppofite meridian of that 
place. So far it may be ufeful, as there 
are many things which may be rendered 
more clear and certain by an appeal to the 
fenfes, than to the underftanding; and per- 
haps the theory of the flux and reflux of 
the fea is one of them. 

M. Voght has erecSted a large chemical 
laboratory, which has been well arranged 
by M. Schmeifler, already known to the 
world by his experiments. This young 
chemift has travelled in many countries, 
and has even foared into the airy regions in 
a balloon, from the aeroftatic fchool at 
Meudon. I was forry that I had not the 
pleafure of meeting him, as he had been 
from home fome days. I found, however, 
many traces of his induftry and ingenuity 
in the laboratory; where things were dif- 
tinguifhed by the new fcientific terms and 
fignatures, according to the antiphlogiftic 
fyftem. I was told that he had difcovered 
a new chemical preparation, which kindled 
B 6 into 



12 FROM COPENHAGEN 

into a flame the inftant it was thrown into 
water. 

Mr. Voght has annexed a large quantity 
of land to his country houfe, which is 
placed under the fuperintendence of a 
Scotch farmer; he has alfo a large collec- 
tion of agricultural implements, with fta- 
bles, ftalls, &c. all in the Englifh manner. 
He has a fine breed of cattle : their dung 
and urine are collected in a large hole or 
pit in the ground, and afterwards fpread 
upon the meadows and fields. Drains are 
formed on the fides of the fields, which are 
cut very deep, filled with ftones and covered 
with earth. As the water runs off between 
the ftones, the furface can be ploughed and 
fowed without any lofs of foil. This prac- 
tice appeared entirely new to fome ; but 
when the good effe&s of it were perceived, 
it began to be univerfally followed. Where 
the quantity of water, which ought to be 
conveyed away in this mode, is great, or 
whereit runs with remarkable rapidity, an 

open 



TO ALTONA. 13 

open cut ought to be made, of a width and 
declivity proportioned to the body of water 
to be difcharged. 

Amongft many other improvements in 
Flotbek, may be reckoned the introduction 
of a threftiing machine; but I cannot fay 
that it is the beft I have feen : a winnowing 
machine was placed under the threfhrng 
one. In the courfe of the laft five or fix 
years, threfliing machines have been intro- 
duced into many places in Zeeland, with a 
much better effedt than thofe in Flotbek. 
Among others which I have feen, 1 need only 
mention Senator Brink Seidelins' machine 
in Crikfholm, which threfhes from fix to 
eight tons of corn in an hour, and the 
grain is feparated from the chaff, at the 
fame time, without the leaii injury to the 
ft raw. Wheat, rye, barley, and oats, are 
threfhed with equal perfection and dis- 
patch. The large threfhing machines are 
very good of their kind ; but they take 
great force (commonly four horfes) to 
work them, occupy much room, and 

require 



14 FROM COPENHAGEN* 

require a large and ftrong houfe, coft from 
five to feven hundred rix-do!lars, and in 
fhort, are calculated only for large farms. 
To render them ufeful to fmall farmers 
fhould be the great object ; fo that 
they take up lefs room, coft lefs money, 
and be worked with lefs force. Some 
fmaller machines have been already intro- 
duced with fuccefs; and the fociety of 
rural ceconomy has held out" a handfome 
premium for the beft invention of this lat- 
ter kind. 

Mr. Vaght has alfo laid out an excellent 
nurfery, of fuch kind of trees, &c. as may 
be ufeful to the country people, and of 
fuch foreign ones as he thought would 
bear our climate. This plantation is found 
to be extremely ufeful ; as it furnifhes the 
farmers with plants. There are many other 
extenfivc farms and plantations throughout 
the country, befides feveral plantations and 
copfes, with agreeable walks in the Englifh 
tafte. 

I was not lucky enough to meet with 

Senator 



TO ALTONA. 15 

Senator Kirckhoff in Hamburgh; he has 
an excellent collection of philofophical in- 
ftruments, executed by the beft Englifti 
artifts, and which were formerly u-fed in 
courfes of lectures in experimental phi- 
lofophy, the difFufion of which he is anxious 
to promote. I alfo found that Do6k>f 
Reimarus and Profeflbr Bufch> during my 
ftay in Altona, had fet (Jut on a vifit to 
their friends in Holftein, 



LETTER 



l6 FROM ALTONA 



LETTER II. 

JOURNEY FROM ALTONA, THROUGH OSNA- 
BURG AND MUNSTER, TO WESEL. 

Sluices — Roads — Cottages of the Boors — 
Soil — Difagreeable travelling in the Ha- 
noverian territory — Interrogations of the 
Prujjian Guard— Plantations of Wood in 
Hanover — Prujfian Soldier very feverely 
punifhed for begging — Peafants uncom- 
fortably Jituated — Ofnaburg a dirty Place 
— Hanover little improved for the I aft 
Twenty -Hvo Years — Denmark very much, 
owing to the excellent Meafures of its Go- 
vernment—The Bonds of Servitude re- 
laxed — Yet agricultural Improvements not 
complete — Recapitulation of them — Manu- 
facture of Linen and Tobacco — Coal-Pits 
worked by the Crown — Fine Valley from 

Lengerick 



TO WESEL* 17 

Lengerick to Munjier — Munfier a neat 
Town — Superjiition of the Inhabitants- — 
Feudal Syfiem Jlill opprejfes Ofnaburgh 
arid Munjier — Boors miferable Slaves — 
Feeble Manufactures at Dorjlen — Cot> 
verfation with Emigrants of Rank. 

ON the 6th of Auguft, I left Altotra, 
and eroded the Elbe to Harbourg. 
This fbort paflTage is very pleafant; as it 
affords a profpe6i of many fruitful, highly 
cultivated and , populous iilands, lying in 
this majeftic river, which flows from the 
Elbe to Harbourg, (a well fortified town) 
through feveral ftonefluices, placed in very 
proper lituations, and well constructed. 
A fluice forms before the town an excellent 
bafon, which would make a very conve- 
nient harbour ; but Hamburg, Bremen, 
and Altona are its fuperiors in point of 
fhipping, and are likely to continue fo 5 as 
this great river glides away in a number of 
collateral cuts or canals. 

I intended to take the (horteft road to 

Paris, 



18 FROM ALTON A 

Paris, through Ofnaburg, Munfter, and 
BrufTels. From Harbourg the ufual route 
is through Welle, Wiifeihoven, Rehde, 
and Nienburg. The great roads run 
through fand and heath, and are worfe than 
any of the highways in Jutland. 

The cottages of the boors are built like 
thofe in Holftein ; the doors being in 
the gable-end, the barn is in the middle, 
and the fides are partitioned off for the 
cattle ; and one of the ends is fet apart for 
the ufe of the family. Very few of thofe 
cottages are furnifhed with a funnel or 
chimney, fo that the fmoke diffufes itfelf 
©ver the whole houfe. 

Mo ft of the farm houfes are encircled 
with neat plantations of oaks, which thrive 
very well in fandy ground, a circumftance 
which induces me to think that there is 
good earth a little deeper, or that at Icaft 
that it is not fuch a ftony mafs as is found 
beneath the furface of fuch grounds in 
Jutland. — Thofe little oak plantations ex- 
tend almoit overall the plains to the Rhine, 

and 



TO WESEL. IQ 

and add very much to the rural charms of 
the peaiant's habitations. 

A poftmafter refides at every ftage, and 
is always prepared to forward you in your 
journey. But, although the expence is 
moderate, the way feems very tedious ;— 
fo that to travel a Danifh or a German 
mile requires at leaft two hours. The poft- 
boys are fo furly and avaricious, that if 
you were to give them three or four marks 
for drink-money, as it is called, at the end 
of every ftage, which feldom exceeds three 
miles, yet they would fcarcely think it 
worth while to thank you. It is of no ufe 
to complain to the poftmafter ; — -fo that I 
would advife every traveller,, who is con- 
demned to pafs through the Hanoverian 
dominions, to lay in a large quantity of pa- 
tience and Jang froid. 

I rejoiced when I was told that we had 
pafted through the worit part of the road r 
and that we fhould foon come to a eaufe- 
way, which was neither more nor lefs than 
a road cut through, fand, and covered at in- 
tervals- 



20 PROM ALT0STA 

lervats with ftone and gravely which of 
courfe rendered it more heavy. — The only 
advantage it could boaft over the heathy 
which we had paffed, was, that there was 
lefs danger of breaking a leg or an arm, 
Notwithftanding all this, the cxpence of 
the carriage is very high. Sometimes the 
unruly poft-boy will quit the caufe-way to 
drive over the heath, and is only to be 
brought back by good words or money, and 
fometimes both fail of the defired effect. 

At Rehde, we pafled over the river^Vller, 
in a very convenient ferry-boat, which con- 
veyed horfes and waggons at the fame time, 
like thofe at Jaegerfprus and Frederick's- 
fund. The line of demarcation now com- 
menced ; and here for the firft time we met 
the Pruffian centinels or guard, to whom 
we were obliged to give up our names, to 
tell whence wc came, and whither we in- 
tended to go. I paffed through a long 
line of demarcation, which was alternately 
guarded by Pruffian and Hanoverian troop- 
ers. The officers treat travellers with great 

politenefs, 



TO WESEL. 21 

. politenefs, and fcarcely detain them a mo- 
ment. 

Nienburch is an inland town, which 
carries on fome trade in provisions and 
gin. Here I law large herds of young 
fwine, the flefh of which is transported to 
Lower Bremen, by the Wefer. The fandy 
foil is fruitful, and very well cultivated for 
about a mile round the town. Then the 
heath again makes its appearance. Both 
roads, for about a mile, are planted on each 
fide with young tir, birch, beech, and fome 
oak. Thefe plantations are very well laid 
out, and the trees are all of a promising 
growth, fo that we fee the regulations for 
this purpofe, in Hanover^ have been planned 
with good effect. 

The road to Solingen and Diepholtz is 
covered with ftunted heath, and a kind of 
flying or drift fand. A battalion of Pruffians 
is quartered in Solingen ; and juft as I en- 
tered the town a foldier was punifhed, on 
a charge of having begged in the neigh- 
bouring villages. The officer himfelf, who 

had 



22 FROM ALTONA 

had all the appearance of a gen tleman, feem-* 
ed to think the punifhment too fevere ; but 
the articles of war would not permit him to 
mitigate it. Though this law may appear 
very hard, yet it is founded in neceffity ; as 
begging is often found to be a mere pretext 
for defcrtio • 

In thofe parts, the houfes of the boors are 
very indifferently built, and worfe furnifh- 
ed ; whence it is eafy to conclude, that the 
fituation of this ufeful clafs of men is far 
from being comfortable. The flying fand 
runs to Diepholtz, where fome Hanoverian 
troops lay, as well as on the fide of Diep- 
holtz. on the road to Boomte. About a 
mile from Oinaburg there is a (lone caufe- 
way, which is far from being good, though 
it is undoubtedly preferable to the fandy 
road. This town has very little to invite 
the eye of a vifitant, the ftreets being nar- 
row, crooked, and dirty. There is only 
one houfe built in the modern tafte. It 
contains a garrifon, with two battalions of 
Pruffians, and one of Hanoverians. 

Do&or 



TO WESJEL. 23 

Do6lor Olbers of Ofnaburg is in fome 
rneafure known as an aftronomer, having 
made different obfervations on comets, and 
written a large treatife on the fubje6t, with 
a very ufeful abridgment of the whole 
work. 

It is now two and twenty years fince I 
travelled through Hanover and Ofnaburg ; 
and, as far as falls within the view of a tra* 
veller, it does not appear to me that the 
progrefs in agriculture has been great, at 
leaft not in thofe parts through which the 
road is carried. It is, however, poffible, 
that in other parts, efpecially thofe which 
are more fertile, the plough has been more 
attended to. I only fpeak of what I have 
feen. I found very little improvement in 
the caufeways or fand ways, as they are 
called, for the convenience of the travelle. 
or the waggoner. 

When a perfon compares the condition 
between Sealand, Fuhnen, Falfters, Laa- 
lands, Langelands, and J) Hand, 22 years ago, 
with the prefent ftate of thefe provinces, it 

muft 



24 FROM ALTONA 

mufi: yield the higheft pleafure to every be* 
nevolent mind, to mark the progrefs which 
Denmark has made in the intervening pe- 
riod. The roads were icarcely paffable. Bar- 
ren waftes prefented themfelves in every 
direction. The little fpots of land which 
were cultivated, after lying fallow for a 
year, Icarcely produced a moderate crop of 
corn; and meadows and pafture grounds 
were in the fame ilate. At prefent, the 
roads interfeft the country in almoft every 
direction ; the fcattered cottages are col- 
le6led into hamlets ; and the face of the 
country is entirely changed for the better. 
In many places, it is true, bond fervice 
prevented the peafant from devoting the 
fmalleft time or labour to his own little 
field ; and fome acted on that falfe and 
miferable maxim, That it mas better to en- 
creaje than to diminijh the number of large 
farms. The boors were localized, and con- 
fined to the very fpot on which they fir It 
drew breath. 

The government faw and lamented the 

impolicy 



TO WKSEL, 25 

impolicy and inhumanity of fuch a fyftem ; 
and, in 17^8, the miniftry began to re- 
move thefe impediments, by the improve- 
ment of the commons, which the very law 
itfelf impeded. The government publifhed 
an ordinance, in which the advantage of 
inclofures, and the cultivation of the foil 
were fet forth ; but this had not the force of 
law. Proper land furveyors and land in- 
fpe£tors were appointed, to make allotments 
of the different parcels of the commons, 
fome of which were fcattered here and 
there. But prejudice and feififhneis pre- 
fented difficulties which gave rile to fuch 
difcontents and ill-will, as. threatened to 
fruftrate the beft digefted plans, and to ren- 
der every attempt of the kind abortive. It 
required the ilrongeft arguments and exam- 
ples, particularly on Bernftorff's manor and 
Kolding houfe, to convince the peafants of 
the utility of the meafure, and that it was 
much better that each fhould have have his 
lot to himfelf^than in common with others. 
As the advantages of the meafure began to 
C be 



l6 FROM ALTONA 

be discovered, mod of the peafants wtfhed 
that their portions fhould be meafured off; 
fo that each might be put in poffeffion of 
his own. 

By an order on the 23d of April l/8i, 
his majefly, through the exchequer, com- 
manded an entire abrogation of the part- 
nerfhip in commons and wafte lands ; fo 
that as foon as the allotment defired by any 
one (hould be made out, the reft fhould 
not be allowed to object to it, but that a 
general plan fhould be laid down, which 
fhould include the whole, a meafure which 
became afterwards generally agreeable. — 
This difficult tafk was impofed in too great 
hafte. It required the greateil confidera- 
tion to form rules for the furveys and taxa- 
tion, and for the arrangement of the whole 
fcheme. Many land furveyors and land in- 
fpectors were employed, and each was pre- 
vioufly obliged to give a fpecimen of his 
qualifications for his department. From 
the moment that this important meafure 
was adopted, it was carried on with the 

greateil 



TO WESEIi. 2? 

greateft Zealand with unabating induftry; 
Co that about two-thirds of the peafants of 
Denmark at this moment feel its beneficial 
effe&s. A number of thefe little farms are 
now in good heart, and many of the peafants 
enjoy them rent free. 

Government itfelf, in Copenhagen, Fre- 
derickfbourg and Kronbourg, has fet a 
laudable example. The bonds of fervitude 
are now relaxed ; and bond fervice is li- 
mited in every part of the kingdom. In 
feveral provinces, particularly in Jylland, 
many of the great landed proprietors have 
let their eftates in fmall farms, to the pea- 
fants, at an eafy rent. The pleating refult 
is vifible in almoft every place you fee, and 
in every countenance you meet. Whatever 
road you take through Denmark, you fee 
commodious and well built cottages, gar- 
dens, cultivated grounds, rich meadows, 
fine cattle grazing in clover fields, and, 
above all, a hale, healthy peafantry. Yet, 
after all, agriculture is far from being 
brought to that height of profperity it is 
C 2 capable 



23 FROM ALTONA 

capable of in Denmark ; of which, however, 
there is every profped: that it will one day 
arrive. 

When we reflect that all this was begun 
in the aufpicious reign of Chriitian the Se- 
venth, who had the power and the will to 
promote fuch ufeful regulations, and when 
we alfo refle<% on the prejudice and obfti- 
nacy of the peafants, who (hut their eyes to 
their own intereft, and feemed to hug their 
chains, it is furprizing that even the pa- 
tience, prudence and wifdom of the go- 
vernment could furmount all thefe difficul- 
ties, the removal of which has produced the 
happieft effedis over all Denmark. Such 
another inftance is not to* be met with in 
the ceconomic hifiory of any other ftate. 
That in the fpaee of forty years, barren 
waftes fhould be divided and converted 
into fertile fields; that every peafant fhould 
have his own farm, and build his own 
houfe ; that bond fervice fhould be li- 
mited, or altogether abolifhed ; that large 
farms fhould be divided into fmall ones ; 

that 



TO WESEL. 2Q 

that the chains of fervitude (hould be re- 
laxed ; and that fome peafants are become 
the lords of that foil which they formerly 
cultivated as bondmen ! — It is with plea- 
sure that 1 look back to my youthful days, 
when, from 17(55 to lj67 9 as bead fur- 
veyor of the exchequer, I had fome final! 
(hare in the original execution of this im- 
portant work. 

After this -digreffion, to which I was na- 
turally led by a pfeafing companion, I beg 
leave to refume my journey. From Ofna- 
burgh to Lengerick are tw r o miles of the 
worft road I ever travelled, part of it being 
through a flat clay, and the red rugged 
bills and hollows ; and the way itfelf fo 
narrow, that it is with difficulty one car- 
riage can pafs another. 

The firft of thefe two miles belongs to 
Ofnaburgb, and the other to Pruffia. Mod 
of the mountains are covered with fine 
plantations of birch, fir, and beech ; but it 
is only in fome places that the beech finds a 
congenial foil. One of the mountains near 
C 3 Lengerick 



30 FROM ALTONA 

Lengerick commands a charming profpech 
This neat little town belongs to Pruffia, 
and is united to the province of Tecklen- 
burg. There are different manufactures of 
linen and tobacco eftablifhcd in it, fome of 
•which employ fixty hands. In the vicinity, 
the fabrication of linen is carried on to fome 
extent, the article being vended at Bre- 
men ; and the raw materials. Hemp and 
flax are growed in the furrounding coun- 
try. There are befides fome coal pits, 
which are worked by royal authority. A 
ton of good coals cofts four good grofchen 
(that is about fixtecn pence Danifh) at the 
pit. The carriage may amount to as much 
more for every half mile. Many ftrata of 
this valuable foffil have been difcovered, 
but have not yet been examined or worked. 
The road from Lengerick to Munftcr 
runs through one continued flat or valley, 
covered with rich verdure, enlivened with 
farms inclofed and well cultivated, and 
adorned with copfes of oak, beech, fir and 
pine. The roads are bad from the nature 

of 



TO WESEL. 31 

of the materials ; and the mode of repair- 
ing them is ftill worfe. 

As foon as you enter Munfter, you per- 
ceive a number of crucifixes, fmall chapels, 
and holy images on the road fide. The 
town of Munfter is tolerably neat and well 
built. The pavement is very good, and 
many of the buildings are in the modern 
tafte ; but the churches are all Gothic. 
The cathedral is very fine, and decorated, 
in the catholic manner, with feveral little 
altars, and fmall chapels. In Saint Clara's 
church, I obferved a printed paper ftuck up; 
fetting forth that, on Sunday the 12th of 
Auguft, high mafs would be celebrated, to 
implore Heaven to move the hearts of po- 
tentates, for the prefervation and extenfion 
of the Catholic faith. There was alfo an 
aflb ranee held out, that the pope would 
remit all the fins, which the hearers of this 
mafs had committed, for the laft two months ! 
I favv another of thofe papers ported up in 
the cathedral. Hence it is eafy to perceive, 
that the fpirit of the church of Rome is 
C 4 the 



32 PROM ALTONA 

the fame now that it formerly was, and that 
it is held no fin to commit any crime which 
tends to enlarge the boundaries of its em- 
pire. 

Munfter, during the feven years' war, 
was well fortified ; but the works are nearly 
linking into ruins ; the rampart is planted 
with feveral rows of trees. The glacis and 
the covered way, as well as the foffe, are 
now ornamented with gardens and fumraer 
houfes, for the enjoyment and recreation of 
the inhabitants ; fo that hereafter the fear 
of a fiege need not be apprehended, or any 
of the fatal confequences which fuch an 
event never fails to produce. The broad 
fhady walks, on the rampart and. about the 
town, are fo well laid out, that I know not 
of any place which can boaft fuch a num- 
ber of inviting promenades. The town be- 
longs to the line of demarcation, and bo- 
lides the troops which belong to Mu nfter, 
some Pruffian battalions are quartered in it. 
One of the generals of that notion gave, a 
jfhfendid ball to tlje ladies and gentlemen 



TO WESEL. 33 

of Munfter, in return for the kind and pa- 
lite reception which the Pruffian officers 
had experienced. 

The feudal fyftem continues, in all its 
oppreffive rigour and extent, in Ofnaburgh 
and Mun iter.— The boors are flaves, and 
toil from morn till night. They are ob- 
liged to give an unufually high rent for a 
little fpot of ground. When one of them 
dies on the fame, the lord of the manor, 
or the be?iejuiarius y feizes on the half of his 
little property ; the fame happens if he 
ihoaki not die on it, unlefs he has fcraped 
as much together asTwili enable him to 
purchafe his freedom. It is eafy to fee 
what a drawback this muft be on thefpirits 
and induftry of thofe miferable beings, in-r 
dependent of the birth which it gives to 
perpetual vexations and heart-burnings. 

I left Munfter on the iOth of Auguft, 
and found the roads very bad ; ftumps and 
trunks of trees or faggots are thrown acrols 
each other in the miry places,, otherwile 
they would be impaflable. This road leads 

C 5 to 



34 FftOM ALTONA 

to Dulmen, a poor village. The foil is very 
fandy and hungry all the way to Dorften \ 
then the land begins to be fomewhat more 
fertile, and produces a great deal of grafs. 
Dorften, like mofl trading towns of the 
kind, is peculiarly fortified in the old man- 
ner, with a wall, fquare, and round towers 
or baftions, and a fofse. In the feven years' 
war, the French took pofTeffion of it, and 
planted fix or feven pieces of cannon on it. 
Prince Ferdinand attacked it with about a 
thoufand men, and, after three attempts to 
ftorm it, was beat off. Th'e town was fet on 
fire in different places, the effe&s of which 
may be feen to this day : he took it, how- 
ever, at laft. There are fome cotton and 
linen manufactories ere6ted in the town, 
but they are ftill in a very feeble fiate. The 
pofi-houfe is the only inn in the place ; 
and bad enough it is. I dined with eight 
emigrants from Liege, amongft whom was 
an ex-canon, nephew of the late bifhop of 
Liege. He was drefled in a fhort green veft 
and flriped pantaloons, and had a kind of 

leather 



TO WESEL. 35 

leather cap or cafket on his head. The reft 
were better equipped ; and it was eafy to 
fee that they had been perfons of fome 
rank. As it was a fall day, their dinner 
confifted of oil, fifti, eggs and meal, the 
whole fo bad, that I really thought the 
keeneft appetite would reject fuch fare. 
After dinner we began to converfe with 
greater cafe and freedom. We touched on 
the fate of the French princes. They faid 
that all ftates, kings, and princes ought to 
unite with weapons in their hands, to arreft 
the progrefs of the French revolution, to 
overturn the republic, and to reinftate the 
princes. It furprized me not a little, after 
what they had faid of the fplendour of their 
former days, that they could remain for a 
moment in fo miferable a village. 



C 6 LETTER 



36 FROM WESSt 



LETTER III. 

JOURNEY FROM WESEL ACROSS THE RHINE., 
AND THROUGH PAKT OF BELGIUM TO 
BRUSSELS. 

Wefel, a neat Town — Pafs demanded — Fly 
Boat on the Rhine defcribed. — French Of- 
ficers reported to he rude, but found civil 
< — Gueldern, a [mall genteel Totvn, op- 
frejfed by the French — Priejh forbidden 
to keep the ufeful regijler of births, &c. — 
Fine plantations of wood, and other improve- 
ments—Curious Jluice uniting the' Maes 
with two other Rivers — Cloijiers at Maaf* 
fyk fold or converted into Barracks — Cru- 
fifixes, &c, carried ojf- — Fine Chimes, ef- 
pecially at Tirlemont — Country Jlill exhi- 
■ bits remains of Profperity, and why — Lou- 
vain Univerfity, &c. diffolved — Bitter 
Complaints there of French impojk, which 

are 



TO BRUSSELS. 37 

are -not- attended to — Caufeways, or paved 
roads, defcribed. 

1CAME toWefel on the afternoon of the 
1 1 th of Auguft. In this very neat and 
well fortified town, my pafs, for the firft 
time, was demanded by the officer on 
duty. Having caft his eye over it, he re- 
turned k to me immediately. -I was told 
fo many • dories of the rude : condtuS of the 
French officers to foreigners, in particular 
diftricts, that I was alrsoft afraid to fet my 
foot on the territory of the republic, which 
now began on the other fide of the Rhine, 
Though I am not fond of cockades, I was 
adviied to wear one ; as that badge was 
alledged to render travelling fafer than, it 
otherwife would be-. 

The next morning rather ea.ly, Icrofied 
the Rhine, on what is called a flying 
bridge. Perhaps you may form fome idea 
of the conftrudion and operation of it from 
the following defcription. In fig. 1, A, is 
a proje&ing wharf, on the Wefel fide, and 

B, a 



38 PROM WESEL 

B, a fimilar one, on the other fide of the 
Rhine. F is a large boat, which rides by 
two anchors, in the middle of the Rhine ; 
E, D, and G, are boats which do not lie at 
anchor, but are fattened together by cables 
which run through their mails ; G is the 
large ferry-boat, of a peculiar ftrudlure,- 
which defcribes a circular arch, of which F 
is the centre, and which terminates at the 
wharfs A and B, When you would crofs 
from A to B, the direction of the water 
being from M to N, or from P to Q, the 
rudder muft be kept in the direction of 
G H, which, according to theory, fhould 
form with the keel of the veflel an angle of 
54° 44'. The firength of the current re- 
prefented by H I is refolvable into two 
forces. The firft I K parallel to the plane 
of the rudder G H, and the other K H or 
IG perpendicular to it. The laft alone 
will turn the veflel, and caufe it to defcribe 
the circle Mnop. In this manner I eroded 
the Rhine in little more than a quarter of 
an hour. But the rudder muft be kept in 

an 



TO BRUSSELS. %Q 

an oppofite direction, in order to pafs from 
the French to the Pruffian fide. 

I have already obferved, that, on the 
Pruffian fide, they alarmed me very much 
with accounts of the infolence of the 
French Commiflaries, who, it was faid, not 
content with a long examination of one's 
pafs, examined your trunks, and tolled 
every thing about ; but, in juftice I muft 
declare, that I found their conduct quite 
the reverfe ; and that I never met with 
perfons in their fituation, who behaved 
with more politenefs and attention. On 
the banks of the Rhine, on the road to 
Geldern, not one of the French officers 
even fo much as defired to look at my pafs, 
though I offered to (hew it to them. 
When I came to Geldern, my trunks were 
examined. But I travelled through Bel- 
gium and France, without any vifitation 
of the kind, even at the barriers of Paris ; 
fo that I have not the lead caufe of com- 
plaint on that fcore. 

The next ftage is Geldern, a fmall gen- 
teel 



40 FROM WESEL 

teel town ; the inhabitants of which had 
little reafon to be pleafed with their h&w 
mafters : for, independently of what t 
had fuffered from the fucceffive influx and 
billetting of foldiers, the French demanded 
100,000 livres, which they promifed to take 
in proviiions, and contributions of an eafy 
nature ; but, contrary to all expectation, 
it Was demanded and paid in ready money, 
in addition to all the aids which were paid 
to the Pruffian Government. A new land 
tax w r as impofed, the prefTure of which was 
Very feverely felt. In Geldern there are 
two Catholic churches, two monafteries, 
and two nunneries. The reetors, or parifli 
priefts, were forbidden by the municipality, 
to regifter births, deaths and marriages, 
whith was confidered as a prelude to the 
extin&ion of the facerdotal office, and the 
Shutting up of the churches. 

Tontihes, life-rents and annuities, &c. 
ought to be regiftered, and properly attefted, 
and when thisoffice was taken away from the 
clergy, it is to be lamented that other per- 

fons 



TO BRUSSELS. 41 

Tons were not appointed to fill it. In towns 
it would be eafy to find fuch perfons, but in 
the country it would be rather difficult. 
At an eafy diftance from Geldern there is a 
large grove, and a fine cloifter called Zante. 
On leaving Geldern, you meet with a 
large common covered with heath, about 
two miles in length and as much in 
breadth. There are many enclofures, how- 
ever, on this heath, each from forty to fixty 
acres. They are planted with fir, oak and. 
birch. Some of the plants are old, others 
younger, and fome very young, but all of 
promifing growth. It would be difficult, 
perhaps, to meet with fuch plantations and 
rifing woods in any other place. They re-, 
fleil a great deal of honour on the former 
Pruffian Foreft Board, and are fo many, 
proofs of its activity and penetration. 
• Befides thefe, there are many fpots from 
ten to twelve acres in extent, enclofed for 
the purpofe of building and forming fettle- 
ments, and which promife to repay the toil 
and induftry of the cultivators, They have 

already 



4% FROM W'ESEL 

already begun to grub up the heath, to 
colled it into fmall heaps, and to reduce 
it to afhes, with which they manure the 
ground. Thefe little enclofures produce 
rye, buckwheat, and potatoes of an excel- 
lent quality. What delight muftfill the heart 
of the traveller as he pafles along, and to fee 
that the Pruflian adminiftration has turned 
its attention to the amelioration of the con- 
dition of the people ? This fine province, 
in a fhort time, will be fo highly improved 
as to vie with any other whatever* 

Thofe heaths juit mentioned, are encir- 
cled with many fertile plains, handfome 
farm houfes, and bufy trading towns, among 
which Venlo deferves to be diftinguiibed. 
The next ftage to Geldern is Degelin, 
which is followed by Ruremond, a large 
well built town, to reach which you inuft 
pafs the river Ruren, or Roer, and in a few 
minutes after, the river Maes. Thefe 
rivers are united by a curious fluice, very 
finely executed. The road ftrctches along 
the banks of the Maes to Muesfyk, an ill 

built 



TO BRUSSELS. ASr 

built town, in which, however, there were 
two cloifters. One of thofe fan6limonious 
erections was converted iato a barrack, and 
the other was fold for 100 louis-d'ors. The 
inhabitants are fuch good Catholics, thai; 
they folace themfelves with the hopes of 
better days ; that is, they expect the monks 
to return, and refume their former fitua- 
tions. The cloifters and churches in thofe 
conquered countries were generally fold 
for a mere trifle, and the republic has pro- 
fited very little by the fales. 

The roads, at a diftance from the Rhine^ 
are very good. No induftry feems to have 
been fpared by the former government to 
make them, and keep them in good repair. 
There are fmall chapels along the road> 
with holy images, but all the crucifixes 
were carried off. There is not a crofs to 
be feen on the fpires of the churches, either 
in town or country. 

Reekom, Tongeren, St. Tron, and Tide- 
mont, are the fucceffive ftages from Maes- 
fyk. Tongeren and St. Tron are rather neat. 

In 



44 FBOM WESEL 

In almoft all the towns of any note, there are 
chimes, which play at leaft every hour. The 
beft that ever I heard are in Tirlemont ; the 
bells have a very line tone, and are always 
in good order. On this fide of the Rhine, 
it is not a little furprifing to fee thofe 
lands, which were formerly parcelled out to 
Pruffians and Auftrians, ftill exhibit Co 
many remains of opulence and profperity, 
in handfome trading towns, and well-cul- 
tivated farms. The caufe may be afcribed 
to the natural fertility of the foil, high cul- 
tivation, manufactures, the many rivers and 
canals which interfe6t it, the Dutch navi- 
gation, and the quantity of provifions 
which it confumes; all which have en- 
abled the farmer to difpofe of his produce 
to great advantage. 

From Tirlemont I came to Louvain, for- 
merly known by its univerfity, and the 
part which it a#ed under the redoubtable 
difpleafure of the Emperor Jofeph. The 
univerfity and the cloifters are now dif- 
folved; and the churches, in which the Ca- 
tholic. 



TO BRUSSELS* 45 

tholic fervice ufed to be celebrated, are al- 
moil: all fold. They complain very bitterly 
in Louvain, of the high taxes which the 
French government has impofed. I bought 
a pamphlet the other day with this title, 
" Expose de la conduite^ qtic?it tenns les 
membres du jury d'equite, pour la contri- 
bution performelle du Canton de Louvain, 
dans la confe6lion de la mat rice des rules." 
In this piece I found copies of all the letters 
which were interchanged on the fubjedt of 
the perfonal impoft. No. 1. is a paper of 
the 24th Ventofe, 6th year of the Republic, 
or the 14th of March, 17 gs,. from the jury 
d'equite to the municipal adminiftration. 
It begins, by ftating, that the Canton of 
Louvaine was let down for 90,437 livres, 
perfonal tax; but that they inftantly faw 
the impoffibility of railing that fum in the 
<:ourfe of a year; in conference of which 
they were going to partition it. They in- 
tended to lay a yearly duty of from 40 to 
50 livres on ale, vfellum, and Jace ; from 
60 to 100 livres on brandies; from 100 to 

150 



46 FROM WESEL 

150 livres on herb (hops and apothecaries \ 
and from 250 to 300 livres on other traders, 
and on the reft of the citizens, a propor- 
tionably larger tax. They acknowledged 
that, notwithfianding thefe new perfonal 
impofitions would exceed the ability of the 
people, yet that there would be a great de- 
ficit on the whole. The inhabitants, in re- 
ply to this fevere requiiition, reprefented 
that the number of troops quartered on 
them, the ftagnation of trade and the diffb- 
lution of the univerfity, by which three- 
fourths of the town's people lived, would 
render it impoffible for them to pay fo high 
<a tax. 

No. 2 is a paper from the \ jury cFequite, da- 
ted (5th of Prairial, 6th year of the Republic, 
or the 25th of May, 1798, addrcfled to the 
municipal adminiftration. Amongft many 
other grounds for the diminution of the 
perfonai tax, they date that there is no pro- 
portion between the taxes of Bruflels and 
thofe of the Canton of Louvain ; that the 
population in the Canton of Bruffels was 

four 



TO BRUSSELS. 4j 

four times as great as that of the Canton 
of Louvain, and that the proportion of 
wealth was as twenty to one. 

The municipal adminiftration of the 
Canton of Louvain, finding this ftatement 
juft and reafonable, wrote to the central 
adminiftration of the department of Dyle, 
a letter No. 3, dated the 14th Prairial, 6th 
year of the Republic, or the 2d of June, 
1798, containing the refult of the eftimate 
of the perfonal taxes on the citizens of the 
Canton of Louvain, founded on the fore- 
going principles. No. 4 is a paper, dated 
Brnflels the l6th of Prairial, 6th year of 
the Republic, or June 4th, 17 £8, from the 
central adminiftration, containing a total 
rejection of their requeft. No, 5 is a frefh 
memorial from the municipality of Louvain, 
requefting a reduction of the taxes. No. 6 
is the anfwer of the central adminiftration 
of Bruffels, dated 14th of Meffidor, 6th 
year, or 2d of July, 1798, in which the 
municipality of Louvain is threatened with 

fpecial 



48 FROM WESEL 

fpecial commiflioners and military execu- 
tion. No. 7 is another communication, 
from the central adminiftration in Bruflels 
to the municipality in Louvain, in which 
they warned them not to follow the confo^ 
/^/oryexampleofthe municipality of Merch- 
ten, which had lifcewife complained, and 
that this complaint was tranfmitted to the 
Directory in Paris, and thence to Ramel, 
the minifter of finance, who difapproved of 
the condudt of the municipality, and com- 
manded that the payment of the whole tax 
which was firfl impofed, fhould be imme- 
diately enforced. No. 8 is a copy of Ra- 
rceFs original letter to the central admi- 
niftration in Bruflels, dated Paris, the 12th 
Meffidor, 6th year of the Republic, or 
30th of July, 1798. The refult of the 
whole was, that the citizens of the Canton 
of Louvain were obliged to aflefs the tax, 
and to pay the whole yearly fum of gO,Q37 
Kvres ; but the preifure of it was very fen- 
fibly felt by every individual. 

There 



TO BRUSSELS. 4Q 

There is only one poft between Louvain 
and Brufiels, and that is Curtenberg. The 
land is well cultivated, and (till improves in 
that refped, as you approach Brufiels. The 
paved way, which begins at Louvain, is 
planted on each fide with trees, a very com- 
mon practice throughout all Belgium, and 
which obtains a little in France. Thefe 
ftone ways, or caufeways, which are con- 
tinued to Paris, are commonly from 40 to 
60 feet in breadth. The hollows are filled 
up, and bridges ere6led, where there is the 
leaft neceffity, with drains to carry off the 
water. In the middle of the road, there is 
a row of ftones, each of which is commonly 
a cube of fix or eight inches. The whole 
is very well executed ; though there may 
be here and there a little height or hollow, 
which is always unpleafant, efpecially as, 
this inconvenience might be removed by a 
few ftones or a littte gravel. The breadtl* 
of thefe ftone or paved ways is not always 
the fame. On fandy ground it is fo nar- 
D row 



♦50 FROM BRUSSELS 

row, that two carriages can fcarcely pafs 
each other, and on the fides are paths for 
the pedeftrians. Where the foil is tena- 
cious or clayey, it is found neceflary to ex- 
tend the pavement to the banks, fo that 
there are no foot- ways. 



LETTER 



TO PARIS* 5? 



LETTER IV. 

STAY IN BRUSSELS, AND JOURNEY THENCE 
TO PARIS. 

Brujfels defer wed— The Confeil Souverain 
plundered — The Viceroy s Palace con- 
verted into, a Central School — Its Claffes 
— Public Library — Churches def polled — 

Manufactures Travelling Carriages 

drawn by Dogs— Belgians diflike the new 
Government, and why — At Mons an Altar 
expofed to Sale— Coal Pits — Jemappe — * 
Good Cultivation — Roads neglected — Vd- 
lenciennes not repaired ftnee the Siege— 
Sqfi of Beggars there, and why — A Shoe- 
maker the Chief of the Municipality at 
Valenciewies— French Villages mean and 
poor — Boys and Girls reaping the Harveft 3 
and why — Three and four vjheeled Carts 
compared — Horfes cruelly treated in France 
D 2 —Road 



♦£2 PROM BRUSSELS 

— Roads negleded) though Tolls high— 
Bouchain ajlrong, hut mean Place — Cam- 
bray neat and clean — French Pojls pro- 

ferly regulated Chantilly plundered— 

Abroach to Paris charming. 

ON the 1 3th of Auguft, I reached Bruf- 
fels, the largeft city in the Nether- 
lands, and a very neat place. The older 
and lower ftreets are fmall and croojted, 
but the more modern ones are ftraight and 
wide, and the houfes are lofty and well 
built. The public walks are in the Englifh. 
tafte, and are adorned with alleys and fome 
xsf them with ftatues: there is alfo a fine 
park. Thefe, with the archdueal court, 
comedies, concerts, balls, and elegant con- 
ventions, rendered the place agreeable, 
and the environs are very inviting. Bruf- 
fels heretofore attracted a great number of 
faihionable Englifh families. Living having 
been at all times cheaper here than in 
their native country, many who had lived 
beyond their fortune, came hither to repair 

it. 



TO PARIS. 55 

it. In thofe days, an Englifh gentleman 
could rent an elegant houfe, with fix or 
feven rooms, for 6gO or 700 rix-dollars a 
year; but fuch a houfe at prefent would 
fcarcely bring 250. 

During the laft conqueft of Belgium, 
the fine park was nearly deftroyed by the 
French foldiers, and would have been to- 
tally laid wade by the Belgic fans-culottes 
and terrorifts, had not the French General 
called in the military, to prevent its total de- 
ftru&ion. The municipality of Bruffels 
have reftored it to its former beauty, at 
their own expence. 

Among the many buildings in Brufiels 
remarkable for magnitude or fine architec- 
ture, we are to reckon the former ConfeilSou- 
verain de Brabant. The palace of the Arch- 
duke, or Viceroy, is remarkably fuperb. The 
firft mentioned edifice is now appropriated 
to different tribunals, and one of the wings 
is converted into a prifon. During the laft 
invafion of Belgium, all the fplendid orna- 
ments and furniture of this magnificent 
D 3 pile 



54 PROM BRUSSELS 

pile were carried off by a let of plunderers, 
and the iron railing, the flairs, and other 
heavy articles, were fold. The Viceroy's 
former palace i& now converted into a cen- 
tral fchool, for the department of Dyle, 
with a public library. This fchool is di- 
vided into three clafies. In the fivft, Fau- 
cois teaches drawing, Wanderftegen na- 
tural hiftory, and Lefbrouflart the Greek 
and Roman dailies. In the fecond, Chief- 
breght gives le&ures on mathematics, and 
Van Mons on phyfics and chemiftry, la 
the third clafs,Henfchling teaches univerfal 
grammar, Bouille the fine arts, Guife hif- 
tory, and D'Outrepont jurifprudence. Van 
Mons was formerly a judge in the civil 
tribunal, and is well known by his ex- 
periments in the Jhmales de Chernie. 

The public library occupies a large fa- 
loon, with two other apartments not quite 
fo large. There is, befides, a room fet apart 
for the palaootypa, or old printed books and 
manufcripts, with a reading room. The 
whole library was collected from theBelgio 

emigrants* 



TO PARIS. 55 

emigrants, and the libraries of the fup- 
prefled cloiiters. Hence it may be con- 
cluded that this collection contains many 
books of little value. The hiftorical divi- 
fion is the belt arranged; but the phyfical 
and mathematical are mixed together. 
Among the old printed books and MSS. 
or palaeotypa, there is a large colie&ion of 
fine copies, which had been found in the 
libraries belonging to the cloifters. Many 
of the MSS. are finely illuminated. Thefe 
manufcripts are very valuable, and contain 
many documents which would throw light 
on the hiftory of the Netherlands. I was 
fhewn two very beautiful copies of Cicero 
and Terence on vellum. LafTerno, the libra- 
rian, told me that the library confifted of 
120,000 volumes; but I own it did not ap- 
pear to me to contain quite fo many. 

Bruflels could formerly boaft of many 
fine paintings, with which the churches 
were chiefly adorned; but nearly one third 
of thefe edifices are now (hut uv^ and dc- 
ipoilcd of their plate and pictures. The 
D 4 equeftrian 



5(3 FROM BRUSSELS 

equeftrian ftatue of Prince Charles of Lo- 
thringen was broken to pieces. It is faid, 
that the Belgic patriots and tcrrorifts con- 
tributed more to this deftrn&ion than the 
French, whofe General prevented it as far 
as was in his power. 

Bruflfels was formerly noted for its ma- 
mifadtures, particularly of camlets, galoon 
and blond laces, filks, clothes, playing 
cards, tapes, pipes, and earthen ware, of a 
fine quality: fome of them are ftill carried 
on, but with Jefs fpirit and fuccefs than in 
pail years. 

In that city I faw, what I thought bad 
been peculiar to Greenland and Kamtf- 
chatka, namely, that it was not uncommon 
for a perfon to travel in a fmall light car- 
riage drawn by four, and fometimes by fix, 
large dogs. This mode is alfo pradifed in 
feveral parts of France; but I do not find 
that it is yet fafliionable in Paris. 

It is no fecret, that the Belgians, in ge- 
neral, do not appear to be very well pleafed 
with the new government. That country. 

it 



TO PARIS. 57 

it is well known, has been, for a feries of 
years the theatre of bloody wars; though 
it was very little interefted in the fuccefs of 
either friends or foes. Now the complaint 
is, that their manufactures are annihilated, 
and the fources of fubfiftence dried up. 
The complaint of the weight, and the num- 
ber, of taxes is ftill more bitter, and fome 
do not hefitate to fay, that they are double 
to what they were under the former go- 
vernment, and that they are unequally im- 
pofed. I have already touched on " the 
fituation of the Cantons of Merchtem and 
Louvain, in this refpe<5t. In the mean 
time, it was the general opinion, that no 
change or commotion was to be appre- 
hended, while the young men were not • 
"enrolled as confcripts. Experience has 
fhewn, that this opinion was well founded ; 
for the firft difturbances arofe in confe- 
quence of the confcriptions being put in 
execution ; fo that the French were not 
content with the meafure of human woe 
unlefs it overflowed, or with the effufion 
D 5 of 



58 FROM BRUSSELS 

human blood, unlefs it was wantonly la- 
vifhed. 

I leftBruflels on the 15th of Auguft. 
The next ftage is Halle, the road to which 
is a very good (lone caufeway, both fides of 
which are embellifhed with fine gardens, 
and highly cultivated fields. From Halle 
to Braine, the road is in general very good, 
and improves as you advance. In Braine 
le Comte, I met with an efcort of fix French 
foldiers, conducing, as many Belgic priefts 
towards the interior of France, whence they 
were to be removed to the coaft, and tranf- 
ported. The prtefls had a very fickly look, 
and were pretty faft bound. On the other 
fide of Cafteau, a barren heath expands 
itfelf for fevcral miles, where fcarcely a 
fhrub or tree relieves the eye, except on a 
very few fpots laid out in little plantations. 
The cottages in Braine and Cafteau were 
built with common field fton-es. The heath 
reaches to Mezaire, where the foil afihmes 
a better appearance. This village is built 
on the road fide, and extends almoft to 

Mons > 



1 



TO PARIS. 5Q 

Moris, which is a fortified town, but the 
works are falling into decay. Here I law 
an altar expofed to fale in the market 
place, with fome holy images, and fevea 
pictures. One of the foldiers itepped up, 
wrote on them, and explained the fubjeel 
of each to the fpeitators, who thronged 
around. 

In the plains, there are fevcral fine coal 
, The coals are conveyed by waggons, 
drawn by (\x or eight horfes, to the neigh- 
bouring villages, even as far as BrutTels, 
and thence conveyed by canals to Antwerp 
and Holland ; as the prefent war has pre- 
vented the importation of this necefifary ar- 
ticle from Engiand. The road runs to Ge- 
innppe, which will be long remembered for 
the bloody conflict, which tooJc place be- 
twixt the Aufirians and the French, in 
which the latter charged with the bayonet, 
and took the numerous Auftrian batteries 
raifed on the heights. 

Quivrain is the laft Belgic ftage. The 

land is fertile, and well cultivated; almoft 

D 6 all 



60 FROM BRUSSELS 

all the fields were fown with clover ; and 
rye-grafs is cultivated with fuccefs in fome 
places. The roads are quite negledied, and 
if not fpeedily repaired, will foon become 
impaflable.-— The villages round Valenci- 
ennes have fuffered very much from the 
war: many of them, particularly the cot- 
tages, are quite deferted. 

Valenciennes is the firft ftage in Old 
France. I came in on that fide which was 
attacked by the Auftrians. In the part 
near the rampart, whole ftreets and lanes 
have been demolifhed, fome have been lef- 
veiled to the ground, and others burnt. 
They have not made the leaft attempt, fince 
the fiege, to rebuild or repair them. Co- 
penhagen has been more fortunate, in this 
refpe<5t. The third part of that city was 
confumed by fire, and in lefs than three 
years, the whole was rebuilt an an extenfive 
and improved plan, far fuperior to the for- 
mer. Fire engines are found to be of 
great ufe in Denmark, even in villages. I 
am not certain that fire engines are ufed in 

France, 



fO PARIS. 6 1 

Prance, or in what manner they are regu- 
lated and kept up fince the revolution. 

The French villages will lofe, by compa- 
rifon, in the eye of the traveller, who has 
jufl pa{Ted through the neat and handfome 
ones of the Netherlands. The firft mo- 
ment you fet your foot in the environs of 
Valenciennes, yon are encircled with a hoft 
of beggars, fo importunate, that they rather 
demand than folicit charity. It feems that, 
fnortly after the revolution, a number of 
the youth of both fexes, engaged in the 
manufactures, were thrown out of employ- 
ment, and reduced to the neceffity of living 
on the cafual bounty of travellers. 

In order to (hew my pafs, it was necef- 
fary that I fhould go to the municipality, 
and thence to the police-office {bureau de 
police). As thefe two did not fit at the fame 
time of the day, I went to the houfeof one 
of the municipal officers, a fhoemaker, 
whom I found at work in his fhop. He did 
not detain me a moment, when I fhewed 
£itn the pafs I had from the French miriif- 

ter 



62 FROM BRUSSELS 

ter in Copenhagen. On fhewing him th° 
royal Danifh pals, he fhook his head ; as 
much as to (ay, That is of no ufe. His drefs 
was not very fine, and yet he was the chief 
of the municipality. In all the other towns, 
In which there were barriers, or turnpikes, I 
was only defired to fhew my pafs, which 
the officer never took out of my hands ; 
but this was not the cafe in fortified or 
garrifoned places, where they examine them 
very attentively. Formerly they expected 
a final! douceur on thefe occasions, which 
was firi&iy forbidden by the laft French 
proclamation ; rlen de vot?e generofite. I 
am told they were very well latisficd with 
ten or twelve fous. 

It is not very far from Valenciennes to 
Frejus, where the French gained a remark- 
able victory. Here I faw a fmall monu- 
ment, erefted to the memory of General 
Dampierre. Douay lies farther off: a fe- 
vere battle was fought there in the reign of 
Louis the Fourteenth ; and the French, in 
order to perpetuate the day, raifed a monu- 
ment, 



TO PARIS. 63 

inent on the road fide, which confided of 
a iquare pyramid, about thirty feet high, 
inferted in a fquare pedeftal, ornamented 
with pyramids of marble, in has relief, with 
infcriptions on each fide. The pyramid is 
now dripped of all thefe ornaments, which 
were broken down or carried away. Some 
fay that this was done by the Imperial ifts, 
who. could not bear that the defeat of their 
anceftors fhould be thus held out to the 
view of every paflenger. But others im- 
pute the dilapidation to jacobins and ter~ 
rorifts, who did not wifh that even the 
fplendid exploits of their fore- flit hers, tinder 
a monarch, fhould be tranfmitted to pos- 
terity. 

The French villages are inferior, in al- 
moft every refpe6i, to thofe of Belgium. 
Moil of the houfes are built of common 
clay, and the little furniture betrays evi- 
dent marks of poverty. Some of them 5 
however, exhibit appearances g( profperitv 
and eafe. Bcfidcs common corn, clover, 
horfe-beans, and walnuts are produced in 

abundance, 



64 PROM BRUSSELS 

abundance, from the kernels of which lad 
they exprefs oil. 

I faw a great number of boys and girls 
in the fields, gathering in the harveft, 
which led me to conclude, that thofe who 
ought to have been employed in that talk, 
were called to the field of battle. I ob- 
ferved that three- wheeled cars, or carts, were 
ufed inftead of four-wheeled ones, which 
in general are very large, and fometimes 
require from two to four, and even fix, 
horfes to draw them ; whilft one or two 
horfes will pull a greater load in the for- 
mer. But I muft declare, that in no country 
with which I am acquainted, are the poor 
working horfes treated with greater cruelty 
than in France. There can be no doubt, 
that, where the ground is even, and the 
roads good, thefe three-wheeled waggons, 
or carts, ought to be preferred to thole with 
four wheels. 

The roads in this part of France are 
paved, like thofe in Belgium. Some, how- 
ever, are better than the highways in that 

country ; 



TO PARIS, 



65 



country ; though there are many hollows 
and rough parts in feveral places, and al- 
though the tolls are very high, all idea of 
repairing them feems to have been aban- 
doned, iincethe revolution. 

Bouchain is a very firong fortification ; 
for, by means of the well-placed and finely 
conftrudlcd fluices, the greateft part of the 
adjoining country can be inundated at 
pleafure ; fo that it would be very difficult 
to befiege or take this fortrefs, if well fup- 
plied with provifions. As to the town it- 
ielf, its mean buildings have fallen into 
ruins. The inhabitants feem to fhare the 
fame fate, for you meet with poverty in 
every quarter of it. Along the whole tradt 
from Valenciennes to Paris, there is a flxa- 
tura of chalk-ftone, which is ufed in deco- 
rating the caft frames of the windows, doors, 
and gates, and, as you approach the capital, 
you meet with fome houfes built entirely 
with this ftone inftead of bricks. 

Cambray is well fortified, and is furnifhed 
with a citadel. The city is well built, 

neat, 



66 



FROM BRUSSELS 



neat, and clean. Throughout the whole, 
you fee the remains of wealth and profpe- 
rity, for which, no doubt, it is indebted to 
its famous manufactories of cambric. From 
Cambray the road runs through Bonavis, 
Fins, Peronne, (which is fortified) Marche 
le Pot, Pouches, Roye, Conchy les pots, 
Carilly,, Gournay, Bois le Liheu, and Pont 
St. Maxenze. 

The French pofls are under very proper 
regulations. The horfes belong to the poft- 
mafters themfelves, feme of whom have 
near 120, a number of which are always in 
the ftable ; fo that you are not detained a 
moment. The poft-boy rides on one of the 
horfes, and goes at a lmart trot over heights 
and hollows, rough places and fmooth, and 
it is in vain either to entreat him to quicken 
or flacken his pace. This road is a great 
thoroughfare for carriages of every kind, 
and at every poll houfe there is a black- 
fmith's (hop. As foon as you flop, thofe 
fons of Vulcan come out, and enquire if 
their affiftauce is wanted. The iron axle 

of 



TO PARIS. 67 

of my carriage happened to be broken by a 
Ytoneon my way to Pont Maxenze. — They 
were glad to hear of it, took it out, welded 
it together, and, in about two hours, I was 
enabled to refume my journey. They 
a iked a louis-d'or, which was not unrea- 
sonable ; and it was fo well done, that it 
has not failed fince. 

From Pont Maxenze I preferred the 
road round Chantilly. Here I travelled 
through a fine grove of oak and beech, with 
much underwood of forward growth. This 
narrow way is bordered with lofty trees, 
whofe fpreading branches form the mod 
agreeable and grateful fhade, efpecially 
from the noon-tide fun. 

Chantilly belonged to the Prince of 
Conde, and is well known for the beauty 
of its architeflure, and the enchanting 
walks and plantations, parks, and pleafure 
grounds around it. The jacobins have 
nearly demolished the fine park walls^ and 
cut down the trees which fhadcd the walks. 
All the internal decorations of the caflle, 

the 



68 



FKOM BRUSSELS 



the paintings, looking-glafles, tapeftry, the 
valuable cabinet of natural hiftory, library 
and all, were plundered ; fo that the empty 
ihell is all that remains of its former fplen- 
dor. The mob cut and carried off the heads 
and arms of the ftatues, which the Prince 
had been fo many years in colle&ing. 
In many of the rooms are yet to be {ttn 
part of the fmall cells, in which thofe who 
were doomed to the guillotine were im- 
mured, during the bloody reign of the ter~ 
rorifts. 

The roads begin to improve, as you ap- 
proach Paris, The fucceffive profpedis on 
every fide, feem to vie with each other in 
richnefs and variety.- — They furpafs what- 
ever imagination can conceive. The mild- 
nefs of the climate, groupes of vineyards, 
highly cultivated orchards and kitchen- 
gardens, all contribute to render the fcene 
delightful; and peaches, apples, pears, 
plumbs, cherries and walnut trees flourifh 
in the open fields, in the greatefl abun- 
dance. 

From 



to paris* 6g 

From Chantilly I travelled through Lu- 
farche, Echouen, and St. Denis, and ar- 
rived in Paris, in the afternoon of the 18th 
of Auguft, 



LETTER 



70 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, ANB 



LETTER V. 

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE PRI- 
MARY, CENTRAL, AND POLYTECHNIC 
SCHOOLS. 

Primary Schools w ell conduced in Paris y but 
not in the Country — The Revolution fub- 
verted the left old Injlitutions — Normal 
Schools — Fault in conducting them — Sci- 
ences taught in them— Journal of the Lee* 
tures and Debates in them — Dijfolution of 
them — Regulations of the Central Schools 
* — School of the Four Nations — Scientific 
Courfes in it—Second and third Central 
Schools — Lift of Departments with and 
without Central Schools — Defefls in thofe 
already efiablijhed — The French Jhew no 
*wijh to learn foreign Languages — Mora* 
lity and Geography not taught in the Cen- 
tral Schools — Ancient Literature little at- 

Hniid 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. ? 1 

tended to in them — The Pupils in them but 
fuperficially inftrutttd—Some of the Teach- 
ers ill qualified — Polytechnic School— 
Courfe of Study in it — Philofophical Ap- 
paratus> Library^ and Collection of Models 
belonging to it- — Public Examination of the 
Students. 

IN the account of Paris which I intend to 
give, you muft not expeil rne to con- 
fine myfelf to chronological order ; but I 
fhall arrange in my journal all that I intend 
to fay on the different fubje6ts, under their 
proper heads — a method which, in fome 
meafure, will prevent repetition and difor- 
der. 

I fhall begin with public inftru<5Hon. 
Thefirft are called Primary Schools, which 
anfwer to our common ones, where read- 
ing, writing, and arithmetic are taught. 
There are many private inftitutions erected 
in Paris, the obje<5l of which is to prepare 
youth for the higher clafles ; fo that they 
may be tranfplanted from thofe nurferies to 

the 



?2 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AKJ5 

the central feminaries. Thefe private in- 
ftitutions in Paris are in general conduced 
in a very proper manner ; but I cannot fay 
fo much of thofe in the provincial towns, 
and in the country. Formerly the clergy 
claimed the exclusive right of inftrudling 
youth. The parifh priefts were allowed lands 
and houfes, but being now deprived of thefe 
benefices, they are obliged, as their only 
means of fupport, to teach fmall fchools, 
where the country people pay for the edu- 
cation of their children ; but thofe fchools 
are fo little frequented, that the riling ge- 
neration may be faid to grow vip without 
any inftru&ion. 

We may conclude, that the primary 
fchools were very much neglected from the 
fpeech which Bitaube, the president of the 
National Inftitute, delivered in the Council 
of Five Hundred, and the Council of An- 
cients, on the fecond complementary day 
in the 6th year of the Republic, (or the 
18th of September, 1798) I cannot in this 
place omit a paflage in it, which refle&s fo 

much 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 73 

much honour on the National Inftitute, and 
the orator who pronounced it. (Comte rendu 
et prefente an corps legiflatifje 'l&jour comple- 
ment aire de Van Q,par V Injlitut National des 
Sciences et Arts. Paris an*], pag. 186 et 
J 87.) "But, — citizens reprefentatives, when 
I laid before you the labours of the phyfical 
and mathematical claftes, I fhould not have 
departed from the principal object, if I had, 
in addition to thefe claiTes, fubmitted to 
your confideration the wifhes which imprefs 
the whole National Inftitute, and the whole 
nation, that the firft fchools for the inftruc- 
tion of youth fhould be thrown open, and 
that the Central Schools fhould not be de- 
prived of their firft and firmeft foundation^ 
the primary schools. I have already ac- 
knowledged, that this meafure is very dear 
to your hearts. The republic has caufe to 
lament, that this important work has been 
fufpended for a long time, from a feries 
of unfortunate circumftances. We truft, 
therefore, to your wifdom, that you will 
fix their exiftence on a firm and ^immutable 

E bafis. 



74 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, ANT5 

bafis. The members of the Inftitute feel 
it their duty to declare the lively intereft, 
which they take in every part of your deli- 
berations and labours. The members of 
your Inftitute are deeply interefied in the 
fate of thefe feminaries, and they are anxious 
that fuch meafures may be adopted as will 
tend to multiply and fix them on a ground 
that willfhortly evince the wifdom and uti- 
lity of the meafure. — But, citizen reprefen- 
tatives, you know how important a thing it 
is for public order, the maintenance of the 
laws, and the correction and purity of mo- 
rals, that thofe, whole fathers you are, 
fhould be early iaftracted, and ufefully 
employed. You are called on to watch 
over a race of young plants, which are now 
drooping — and, if not fpeedily revived, will 
fadeaway. The happy effedts of the cen- 
tral fchools are already experienced in dif- 
ferent departments ; the happy confe- 
quences of other public inflitutions are 
daily diffuling themfelves. It is in your 
power to remove the misfortunes of which 

we 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. ?5 

we complain ; fo that an a&ive, afpiring, 
and ingenious people will have the pleafure 
of feeing their youth return once more to 
in'ftrudrion, when it is held out to them/* 

The prefidents of both Councils in their 
anfwers, pronounced a panegyric on the 
Primary Schools. The prefident of the 
A-fiTembly of Ancients faid (Compfe rendu, 
p. 202.) 4i The Council participates in the 
ardent wifhes, which you exprefs for the 
advancement and regulation of the primary 
fchools. They are well worthy of the at- 
tention of the Legiflature, and we receive 
them with additional pleafure^ becaufe 
they come recommended by the Council 
of Five Hundred, which will not fail to 
watch over thefe young plants, which you 
have recommended with fo much folici- 
tude.^ 

Time will prove whether it would not 
redound more to the advantage of the 
French nation, that thefe patriotic views 
fhould be carried into execution, than the 
conqucft cf entire provinces. Without in- 
E 2 ftruc- 



70 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

flru&ion, the rifing generation will have to 
lament the fatal confequences of ignorance, 
immortality, and unbridled licentioufnefs. 

In confequence of the Revolution, every 
thing was changed, and even the heft in- 
stitutions under the monarchy were fub- 
verted, or annulled, with the exception of 
the French College in Paris, which has un- 
dergone no change. It was found necef- 
fary, that other inftitutions fhould be fub- 
ftituted in the room of thofe that were 
abolifhed, and to which they gave the 
name of Normal Schools. In purfuance 
of the decree of the 24th Nivofe, 3d year 
of the Republic, or the 3 5th of January, 
1795, the National Convention ordained, 
that profeffbrs and teachers fhould be eftab- 
lifhed, over all the Republic, and they 
gave the general name of Normal Schools 
to thofe nurferies, to which men of clear 
underftanding only were to be appointed, 
to prepare youth for the higher fchools. 
There was one fault however in them, the 
feme which was complained of in thofe in 

which 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS* 77 

which lectures were read^ and that was, 
that the learner fhould write a quick hand to 
take down the lectures ; fo that it was necef- 
fary he fhould learn itenography,, cr fhort- 
hand, as thele lectures were to be immedi- 
ately printed in a journal. In the Firft 
Sitting, or Atlemblj% the proielibrs otily 
fpoke; in the fubfequent ones, tlye iubject 
was refervedj and all the pupils in fucceffion 
were at liberty to deliver their opinions on 
it. They could put questions to the pro- 
fefibr£, and the prcfeflbrSj in their turn, 
could queflion them ; fo that the fttbjeA 
of enquiry was generally fiftcd to the bot 
torn; as there was no reilraint on the free- 
dom of difcuffion, except what good man- 
ners and politenefs impoied. 

The teachers were chofen from a mono- 
men of the firft talents, known either by 
their difcoveries or -writings. On the firft 
and fixth day of each decade, La 
and Laplace taught mathematics Bauy 
phyfic, and Monge geometry. On the fe- 
cond and feventh days, Daubenton lectured 

E3 



'?8 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

on natural hiftory, Berthollet on chemifuy, 
and Thouin on agriculture, On the third 
and eight days, Buache and Montelle read 
geography ; hiftory as written, by Volney, 
and the morality of Bernard Saint Pierre, 
The fourth and ninth days in each decade, 
were devoted to the principles of univerfal 
grammar by Sicard, logic by Gar&t, and ge- 
neral literature by Laharpe. 

The journal, which I have now before me, 
the National Convention ordered to be pub- 
lifhcd. It confifts of two grand divifions, 
lectures and debates, or conferences. Six 
odlavo volumes, of the lectures have already 
appeared [Seances des Ecoles Normales, re- 
cuelllies far Jlenographe, et revues par le pra- 
fejfeur. Lecons, torn. I — VL a Paris, Van 3,) 
Thefe fix volumes contain fixty-onc col- 
fedtions and lectures of the profcflbrs juft 
mentioned, in the head clafles, from the 
20th of January to the 15th of May, 1795. 
In truth, whatever fell from the lips, or 
flowed from the pens of fuch enlightened 
men as Lagrange, Laplau, Hauy, Monge, 

Dauben- 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 79 

Daubenton, Berthollet, Thouin, Buache, 
Volney, Sicard, and Laharpe, had a claim 
on the public attention ; but they did not 
extend beyond the firft principles of the 
ibientes, which was as much as could be 
expected in four months, or twenty-four 
lectures of an hour each. In my opiniof), 
Hauy has been very fuccefsful in his phy- 
sical lectures. There is only one volume 
of the debates or conferences pnblifhed 
(Seances des Ecotes Normales. Debuts ', torn, I. 
a Paris, Tan 3.) it contains twenty-five col- 
lections ; but it feems far from being inte- 
rcfting (perhaps it could not be otherwife,) 
and it was very judiciouily comprefTed into 
one volume. 

The objedl which the Convention had rn 
view, in erecting the Normal Schools, was 
to introduce and explain the methodiftic 
mode of inftru&ion. as it is now called bv 
fome. On re-perufing the 6th volume of 
the works of the Normal Schools, I found 
nothing to complain of. It muft firikc the 
reader, however, that the Normal Schools 
E 4 can 



80 PRIMARY^ CENTRAL, AND 

can have produced nothing remarkable. 
They were railed upon a hafty and unftable. 
foundation, and hence, in lefs than a yean 
they were diflblved. 

The fchools, which exift at prefent, are 
the Central Schools, the Polytechnic School, 
and the Schools for the Public Service {EcoJes 
de Service Fublique.) 

The law for the central fchool was en- 
acted on the 3d Brumaire, fourth year of 
the Republic, The regulations are as fol- 
low : There ihall be a central fchool in each 
department. The whole of the induc- 
tions fhall be divided into three parts or 
fe6lions; drawing, natural hiftory, the an- 
cient and modern languages, fhall be 
taught ift the firft ; mathematics, phyfics, 
and chemiftry, in the fecond ; and univer- 
fal grammar, the fine arts, hiftory, and le- 
giflation in the third. The pupils to be 
received into the firft at the age of twelve, 
into the fecond at fourteen, and into the 
third at fixteen. There fhall be a public 
library in each central fchool, with a bo- 
tanic 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 81 

tanic garden, and apparatus of chymical 
and philofophical inftruments. The pro- 
feflbrs to be examined and chofen by a Jury 
of Inftruction {Jury cT Inftru&iori) and the 
choice to be confirmed by the depart- 
mental adminiftration. Aprofeffbr cannot 
be difmifled by the aforefaid adminiftration, 
unlefs there be a complaint preferred 
againft him by the Jury of InftrudHon, 
which muft be well grounded ; as he is at 
liberty to defend himfelf, and there is a 
final appeal to the Directory. The falary 
of the profefTor is from 2400 to 3600 franks 
alfo to be paid by the departmental admi- 
niftration. They have befides, fuch a 
yearly gratuity from each pupil, as the de- 
partment thinks fit, which feldom exceeds 
twenty-five franks. The fourth part of the 
pupils are in general too poor to fpare any 
thing. 

It is eafy to remark, that the general 
rules or laws are very well digefted ; but the 
manner in which they are to be obeyed or 
maintained, fhould have been laid down at 
the fame time. It is to be lamented alfo, 

E 5 , that 



82 PRIMARY^ CENTRAL^ AND 

that morality is pafled over ; efpeeially as 
the public exercife of religion is abolifhed. 
In the fecond fe£tion, the learner from 
fourteen to fixteen, is inftructed in the ab- 
ilrael fciences, which tend very much to 
fharpen the underftanding, and to call 
forth the latent powers of the mind ; and 
from fixteen to eighteen, he is taught to 
read the beft hiftorians, a ftudy peculiarly 
improving to the minds of youth at that 
period. 

From the Central Schools I fhall now 
proceed to that of the Four Nations {Ecgh 
centrak des Quatre Nations > etablie dans h 
ti-devant College des Quatre Nations). I (hall 
give you an account of the teachers and 
the hours of le&ure. 



FIRST SECTION. 

Le&ures every day, except the 5th and 
10th days in the decade. 

Ancient Languages. 
Gueroult, the elder, reads from nine to 
half paft ten in the forenoon. 

Natural 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 83 

Natural Hlftory. 

Brongnard the younger, from half paft 
ten till twelve at noon. He is a lively 
young man, has a pleafing delivery, and I 
have liftened to him with a great deal of 
pleafure. 

All the pupils in this clafs have the after- 
noon to themfelves ; and it is entirely at 
their own option, to repeat or not, what 
they heard in the forenoon. 

Drawing. 

Moreau, the younger, teaches drawing 
from twelve tillhalf paft one. 

SECOND SECTION, 

Mathematics, 

Lacroix teaches arithmetic, algebra, geo- 
metry and trigonometry, from nine to ele- 
ven in the forenoon, on all the comple- 
mentary days, which are one, three, feven^- 
nine, Lacroix has a fine delivery, and is* 
a. very good mathematician, as is well 
EO knowi> 



84 PRlMAftt, CENTRA!, AKB 

known by the following performances % 

Traite elementaire de Trigonometric refti- 
ligne et fpherique, et d? application de Valgebre 
a la Geometries Paris , an 7, 8. Elemens de 
Geometric defer iptive, Paris } 17Q5- Traite 
du Calcid differ entiel et integral, 2 torn. At o. 
Paris, an 7 ; and he has in the prefs, Traite 
des differences et jdes feries. 

Experimental Philofophy and Chemijlry. 

Briffbn reads all the non-complementary 
days, from half paft ten to eleven. He is an 
impreffive reader, and all his reafonings are 
\vell grounded, He is known by a work 
On the fpecifie gravity of bodies. He has 
betides, written three volumes on phyfics, 
two of which are already publifhed, and the 
third is impatiently looked for. I do not 
hefitate to fay, that this work contains the 
beft iyftem of phyfics in the French lan- 
guage. In this fe#ion there are only two 
hours each day fet apart for reading lec- 
tures ; fo that the pupils have time enough 
to learn mathematics and phyfics in the 

fecond 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 85 

fecond year, if they chufe to occupy their 
time in fuch ftudies. 

THIRD SECTIOST. 

General Grammar and Logic, 
Domergue reads all the complementary 
days, from nine to eleven, 

Hiftory. 

Montille, all the even days, from nme to 
eleven. 

Legijlation. 

Grivel, all the non-complementary days, 
from nine to eleven. 

Fine Arts. 

Fontanes, all the non-complementary 
days, from eleven to o>e. 

This fchool has befides an agent and fe- 
cretary, C. Lepine. 

This fchool has a handfome library, 
which formerly belonged to the College des 
'Quatres Nations; a collection of philofophi- 
cal inftruments, which are rather old, but 

kept 



86 



PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 



kept in good order by Briffcn, on whicfr 
be makes experiments very fuccefsfull^, 
There is likewife a fmall botanic garden 
annexed to it. This fchool, when a col- 
Ibge, was mouldering fafi into ruins ; but 
it is now undergoing a thorough repair, 
and, when finifhed, will be found to he 
very' neat and convenient.. 



The fecond central fchool' in Paris is in 
the Pantheon, formerly the church of Saint 
Genevieves, The regulations are entirely 
the fame. Among the teachers in na- 
tural hiftory are Cuvier, . and Deparcieux, 
who is (till better known. The third cen- 
tral fchool is in. the fuburb of Saint An- 
thony,... in the former Jefuits' Coilegs, 
Among the teachers in thofe feminaries 
fome are known by their literary produc- 
tions, and thofe who are not, may yet be 
very well qualified to fill their refpe&ive 
fituations. Thefe two feminaries have good 
libraries, a collection of at leaft the mod 

ufefui 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. &7 

ufeful philofophical inftruments, and each 
a lmall botanic garden. 

In thofe departments where univerfitie^ 
colleges, large cloifters, palaces of emi- 
grants, and libraries- were already efla^ 
blifhed, it was eafy to organize central 
ichools ; but where fuch univerfities, &c. 
were wanting, they are not even at this 
day furnifhed with central fchools. I (hall 
now give you a lift of thofe ferainaries, and 
the places in which they are eftablifhed. 
Thofe marked with an afterifm are not yet 
organized, or at lead their organization has 
not been publicly announced* 

Departement de Taifne - in Soiflbns. 
Dep. d'Allier .... - Moulins. 
Dep. des hautes Alpes . - Gap.* 
E)ep. de l'Ardeche . . - Tournon.* 
Dep. de l'Arriege ... - St. Girons. 
Dep. de PAude ... - Carcaflbnne. 
Dep. des Bouches du Rhone - Aix. # 
Dep. du Cantal ...» St. Flour. 

Depart- 



88 



PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 



Departement de la Cha- 



rente inferieure ♦ . 


in Sainted* 


Dep. de la Correze . . 


- Tulle. 


Dep. de Cotes du Nord 


- Guincamp.* 


Dep. delaDordogne 


- Perigueux. 


Dep. de Tain • . . 


- Bourg. 


Dep. des bafies Alpes 


- Digne.* 


Dep. des Alpes maritimes 


- Nice*. 


Dep. des Ardennes . . 


- Charleville. 


Dep. de l'Aube . . . 


>- Troyes. 


Dep. de l'Aveyron . • 


- Rhodez. 


Dep. de Calvados . . 


- Caen. 


Dep. de la Charente 


- Angouleme.* 


Dep. du Cher . . . 


- Bourges. 


Dep. de la Cote d'or 


- Divon. 


Dep. de la Creufe . . 


- Aubuflbn.* 


Dep. du Doubs . . , 


- Befanqon. 


Dep. de la Drome . . 


- Montelimart. 


Dep. d'Efcaut . . . 


- Gand.* 


Dep. de L'eure et Loire 


- Chartees. 


Dep. de la haute Garonne 


- Touloufe. 


Dep. du Gers \ . . 


• Auch. 


Dep. du Golo . . . 


* 


Dep. de Lille et Vilaie . 


- Rennes. 




Dep. 



POIA' TECHNIC SCHOOLS, 



80 



Department de l'lndre et 


Loire 


in Tours, 


pep. de Jura . . 


, - Dole,* 


Dep. de Liafmone . « 


* 


Dep. de Finiftere ' . , 


- Quimpes.*- 


Dep. de haute Loire 


- Pay. 


Dep. da Loiret . . « 


- Orleans. 


Dep. de la Lozere 


. - Mende. 


Dep. de la Manche . . 


- Avranches. 


Dep. de la haute Marnc 


; - Chaumont. 


Dep. de Lot et Garonne 


- Agen. 5 * 


Dep. de la Mayenne. 


, - Laval* 


Dep. de la Meufe infcri 




eure ..... 


. - Maeftria.* 


Dep. du Mont blanc , 


r - Chamberry. 


Dep. de Morbitian • 


. - Vanner. 


Dep. de deux Nethes 


, - Anvers. 


Dep. du Nord . . 


■ - Lille.* 


Dep. de l'Orne ♦ . , 


- Seez.* 


Dep. du Pas de Calais . 


- Arras. # 


Dep. de bafles Pyrenees 


. Pau. 


Dep. des Pyrennees orien 




tales 


- Perpignan. 


Dep. de haut Rhin . . 


- Col mar. 




Depart 



§0 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AltV 

Departement de Dyle . in Bruxelles 

Dep. de FEure . . . 
Dep. dc Gard . . 

Dep. de Gemmape . ~ 
Dep^ de la Gironde . 

de l'Herault . • 



Dep. 
Dep, 
Dep, 



de I'lndre . . . 

de l'lfere . . . 
Dep. des Landes 
Dep. de la Loire • . 
Dep. des Forets • . . 
Dep. de la Loire inferieure 
Dep. du Lot .... 
Dep. de Maine et Loire 
Dep. de la Marne . . 
Dep. de la Meufe . . 
Dep. de la Lys . - • 
Dep. de la Meurthe 
Dep. de Loire et Cher ♦ 
Dep. du Mont terrible 
Dep. de la Mofelle . ♦ 
Dep. de la Nieve . . 
Dep. de TOife . . . 
Dep. de l ? Aurthe .. • 



- Evreux. 

- Nimes. 

- Mons.^ 

- Bourdeaux. 

- Montpellier.: 

- Chateau roux. 

- Grenoble. 

- Saint Sever. 

- Rouanne. 

- Luxembourg* 

- Nantes. 

- Cahor& 

- Angers. 

- Chalons, 

- Verdun. 

- Bruges.* 
w Nancy.* 

- Vendome. 
~ Parentruy- 

- Mctz.* 

- Never*. 

- Bauvais,*' 

- Liege. * 

pegart- 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 



Qsl 



Departement du Pay de 

Dome 
Dep. ucs Pyrennees 
Dep. de bas Rhin • * 
Dep. du Rhon . . . 
Dep. de Sambre et Meuie 
Dep. de Seine et Loire 
Dep. de la Seine et Marne 
Dep. de la Seine inferieure 
Dep. de la Somme . . 
Dep. du Vas .... 
Dep. de la Vendee . . 
Dep. de la haute Vienne 
Dep. de TYonne * • 
Dep. de la haute Saane 
Dep. de la Sarthe • ^ 
Dep. Seine et Oife . . 
Dep. de deux Sevres 
Dep. du Tarn . . . 
Dep. de Vauclufe . . 
Dep. la Vienne . . . 
Dep. de Vofges • . • 



in Clermont. 

- Tarbes. 

- Straibourg.- 

- Lyon.* 

- Namuiv* 

- Autun. 

- Melun. 

- Rouen. . 

- Amiens. 

- Toulon* 

- LucjonJ* 

- Limoges.* 

- Auxerres.* 

- Vefoul.* 

- Mans.* 

- Verfaillcs. 

- Niort.* 

- Alby.* 

- Carpcntrus*. 

- Poitiers. 

- Epinal.*- 



Befides the three central fcbools in Paris, 

uinetv 



0'2 PRIMARY^ CEtfTKAL, AND 

ninety feven are intended for the depart- 
ments, of which fifty-one are organized^, 
and forty are yet unorganized. Different 
teachers are dill wanting in fame of the 
organized fchools ; for example, at St. 
Giron's, in mathematics and phyfics. In 
Tulli, all the teachers are wanting, except 
thofe of drawing and grammar. In Mon- 
telimart, there are only two, one in natural 
hiftory, and the other in mathematics. ■ In 
Chateauroux, there are none in phyfics, or in 
the whole third -fe&ion. In Puy, there are 
none at all in the firft clafs. In Porentrny, 
Anvers, Nevers, Pau,,Autun, phyfics and 
chemiftry are quite negledled, for want of 
profeflbrs. Collections of inflruments and 
libraries are wanting in many. There are 
no teachers of the foreign languages to be 
found in any. Lalande, fince his journey 
to Gotha, laft fummer, confefies that the 
knowledge of German literature would 
amply repay the trouble of acquiring the 
language of that country, even to be able 
to read the books which appear in it. He 

has 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. Q3 

has written to the Minifter of the Interior 
on that fubjedt, and entreated that perfons 
ikilled in the German language, may be 
appointed to teach it in the central fchools. 
Yet we do not obferve the leaft inclination 
to learn the foreign languages. In the nar- 
row 7 circle of my acquaintance, however, I 
know fome who fpeak German with fluency. 
Among this number are Mr. Bourgoing, 
well known by his jufily admired writings 
on Spain ; Cuvier, Member of the National 
Inftitute, and profeflbr of natural hiftory; 
Coquebert, profeflbr of hiftory, and a 
member of the general department of 
weights and meafures, a young man of very 
genteel addrefs, and good education. He 
recommended the introduction of many 
foreign articles of utility ; but, in purfu- 
ance of the Minifter's advice, he went to 
Italy, where he exchanged his pen for a 
fword, and is now a good foldier. 

I have already remarked, that morality 
and geography are not ordered to be 
taught in the central fchools. One teacher 

is 



Q4 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

is only appointed for Latin and Greek, to 
which he devotes two hours each day, the age 
of the pupils being from twelve to fourteen. 
But in fo fhorta time, pupils of that age can- 
not be expcdledto make any great progrefs 
in the acquisition of thofe languages. I have 
heard many of the beft philologifts in Paris 
complain, that ancient literature is very 
little attended to, not to fay quite neg- 
lected. In fome countries, it is prized be- 
yond its value, and in others, it is depreffed 
beneath it. In my opinion, the lovers of 
fcience ought to know at leafi: as much 
Latin and Greek, as will enable them to 
trace the roots of thofe fcientific words, for 
which we are indebted to thofe .languages. 
Lectures are read in the central fchools ; 
but no books are prefcribed. to the pupils, 
nor are they called on to repeat what they 
have heard. I am not quite certain that a 
youth, from the age of fourteen to fixteen, 
can be well grounded in the principles of 
fcience, by this mode of inftrudion. I 
have been prefent at the public examina- 
tions, 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS, Q5 

ti©ns, and found that moft of them knew 
fome things in a general way; but that very 
few were matters of the primary principles 
of fcience* 

Towards the clofe of the republican ' 
year, the Directory appointed commiflion- 
ers to travel through the departments, in 
order to examine, and to make a report of 
the ftate of the central fchools. Many of 
thofe were my friends and acquaintances, 
and they aflured me, that in moft places, 
they found thofe fchools in a very indiffer- 
ent ftate: even fome of the teachers knew 
very little of what they profefled. The 
commillioners faw that it was very necef- 
fary, that proper books fhould be written, 
for the ufe of thefe fchools. They la- 
mented, at the fame time, that, in moft of 
the departments, the central fchools were 
little fought and attended by very few. 

As foon, however, as defe&s can be fup- 
plied, and proper regulations adopted, with 
the means of carrying them into execu- 
tion, it is very probable that thofe central 

fchools, 



g6 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

fchools, fuch as they are, will be found to 
be of great utility. 

The next fchool, but of a higher order, 
is the Polytechnic School, in the former 
Palais de Bourbon, where the Aflembly of 
Five Hundred alfo hold their fittings in a 
large hall. The pupils are tranflated from 
the central fchools, after a preliminary exa- 
mination, in the elements of arithmetic, 
algebra, geometry, trigonometry, &c. The 
number of the pupils is fettled at 360, who 
are divided into brigades, twenty to each 
hall, under the infpe6iion of the teachers, 
and a vifltor, or chief infpedior, 'whom they 
alternately choofe from among themfelves. 
The common courfcs in thefe fchools re- 
quire three years, and the fchool is divided 
into three correfponding clafies. Defhauts- 
champs, the prefcnt dire£lor of the Poly- 
technic School, is a profound mathema- 
tician. Hfe is often prefent at the Te&urcs, 
and fpares no pains to keep the pupils in 
proper order. The laft year, he carried a 
decree that the teachers and pupils fhould 

wear 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. Q7 

wear an uniform of buff-coloured waift- 
coats, and blue frocks with yellow buttons, 
on which are infcribed the words, " Ecole 
Poly technique" Befides the director, there 
are two adminiftrators, Le Brun and Ler- 
mina, who are very honeft men. 

Firji Year, or firjl CJafs. 

In this clafs, the higher algebra and 
analytic geometry are taught, together with 
that part of geometry which is particularly 
applicable to the pra&ice of ftone-cutting, 
carpenter's work, fciagraphy, orfhadowing, 
perfpe6live, and the conftrucftion of maps. 
The teachers are Monge, who is now in 
Egypt, and his affiftant Hachette. The 
chemiftry of Fourcroy is alfo explained in 
his clafs, by Salternes. Hafenfratz le6lures 
on general phyfics, including mechanics, and 
the other parts of phyfics, which are found 
neceflary in mechanical employments. 

Second Year, orfecond CJafs. 
The arts of laying out roads, ere&ing 
liridges, building, and all that relates to 
F houfe- 



Q8 -PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

houfehold furniture, are taught by La- 
garde and Dubois, 

The fcience of building, or any peculiar 
fiyle of architecture is taught by Gay and 
Vernon. - 

Prony and Fourier, explain hydroftatics, 
hydraulics, and mechanics. 

The chemiftry of the organic, vegetable/ 
and animal fubitances, are taught by Ber- 
thollet and Chauffier. The former is at 
prefent in Egypt. 

Third Year, or third Clafs. 

Fortification is taught by two officers 
of the engineers. 

The cqnftru6Hon of fuch engines as re- 
late to mechanics, are explained by Prony 
and Fourier. 

The chemiftry of minerals, metallurgy, 
and mining, are taught by Guiton de Mor- 
veau. 

Lagrange befides, reads Iedlures on dif- 
ferents parts of the mathematics, particu- 
larly tl e analytic. There are three draw- 
i g mafters. 

The Polytechnic School is kept in very 

proper 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. QQ 

proper order ; it contains a good philoso- 
phical apparatus, in three rooms on the 
third ftory. In the firfi: room, are three 
ovens or ftoves, with glaftes, to make expe- 
riments on "the nutrition of plants by gafes, 
and many conveniences for the profecution 
of phyfical and chemical refearches. 

In the fecond room there is a large col- 
lection of mechanical and hydroftatical, op- 
tical, agronomical, electrical, and magne- 
tical inftruments ; moll of which belonged 
to Nollct, and Sigard de la Fond ; and 
they are kept in good order, and well ar- 
ranged. 

Among the few Englifh inftruments, I 
obferved there, was an excellent air pump 
on Smeaton's plan, improved by Nairn. 
This formerly belonged to Lavoifier; but, &s 
it had only one tube, he exchanged it for 
one with two, which, though more quick, 
does not evacuate the fame quantity of air 
in a given time. There is on the fecond 
floor, a hall highly decorated, which is 
filled with a great number of inftruments 
F 2 and 



100 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

and models, many of which ought to be in 
the firft. A perfon is appointed to keep 
thofe inftrumefits in order, and to arrange 
the new ones. The pupils have accefs to 
them when they pleafe. 

This Polytechnic School has a very^neat 
and good library of about ten thoufand vo- 
lumes, of the chief works on the different 
fubje&s taught in this inftitution. It is 
open, for the ufe of the pupils, fome hours 
every day, and on the decades the whole 
day. It is constantly confulted by the ftu- 
dents, of whom I have often found from 
twenty to thirty in it at a time. 

In a room, fet apart for that purpofe 
folely, there are models of machines, fome 
of which are very interefting and ufeful ; but 
others are of little value, and indifferently 
executed. It may be only called the be- 
ginning of a collediion of that kind, which 
will be fupplied by degrees, with models of 
machines of more importance, and better 
work «{hip. 

AU thefe models, machines, and philofo- 

phical 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. lOl 

phicul inftruments, may be faid to have 
coft nothing, having been partly taken 
from the former public collections, and 
partly from the royal philofophical and 
mechanical cabinets, or from thofe of the 
emigrants. 

Three rooms are fet apart for architec- 
ture alone. In the firft, was ftereotomy, 
which, in the fcientific language of the Po- 
lytechnic School, fignifies that part of ftone- 
cutting, on which Frezier and De la Rue 
have written fo much. The theory and 
rules of proje&ion are firft ftudicd ; as 
when afolid body, of a given figure, is to 
be cut, according to plans or fchemes of a 
given pofition, fuch as a cylinder to be cut 
by another cylinder^ or by two cylinders; 
or when a body, of which one end is a 
circle, and the other an ellipfis, is to be cut 
by a given plane, there to define the curve 
lines of the projection ; or, on a kind of 
cone, the bafis of which is an ellipfis, to 
define the fedtion, which will be a circle. 
F 3 Thefe 



102 PRIMARY, CENTBAL, AND 

Thefe, and many other ftich problems, are 
executed from models remarkably good. 

This ilereotomy, together with defcrip- 
ii'/e geometry, are cultivated with a great 
deal of zeal and induftry.* I will not fay 
that the pupils fliould be ignorant of thefe 

* In the fame fchool, defcriptive geometry is taught, 
■as well as the art of reprefenting on paper, objects 
•which have three dimenfions by two, 

It were to be wifhed that the learned author had 
employed the art he here mentions, in explaining 
the above fedtions of folids, which 5 at the heir, are 
not very eafy of digefdon. It feerns fcarcely fair m 
him to expect ordinary, or, I may venture to fay, 
even mathematical readers, to underftand from mere 
words, a fnbject in which we fee the French geo- 
metricians very properly employ both figures and 
models, to affift the imagination. Csefar's, merely 
verbal, defcription of his bridge over the Danube, is 
fcarcely intelligible. But when a man lees a figure, and 
itiil more a model of it, he is ready to defpifehhnfelf 
ibr not having underftood fo very fun pie a ftruclure, 
by a (ingle hint. In my opinion, the fblid fediions 
mentioned in the text, are far more difficult to be 
apprehended, without fuch affiiiance, than Csefar's 
bridge. But I have tranfiated the paffage literally, 
and mufl leave the reader to make the beft he can of 
it, as I have done« — Tra?iflatot\ 

things, 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 103 

things, nor will I deny that, the know- 
ledge of them may be found ufeful in many 
rcfpecls, particularly in the conitru6tion of 
charts and maps, defigns in architecture, 
and mechanics, &c; but I think I may 
venture to affert that they coft more time 
and application than they deferve. 

The fecond architectural room was en- 
tirely appropriated to ftone- cutting, or the 
determinative formation of certain figures. 
They make uie of a compofition of ftone to 
form models of portals, gates, bridges, &c. 
which the pupils mutt work themfelves. 
Mod of thofe models were very neat, and 
on the whole well executed. Their height 
was from eight to iixteen inches. 

The third room contained models of all 
the orders of architecture ; and of entire 
facades, buildings, palaces, and temples. 
There is a perfon in the fchool, who models 
with great exacftnefs and elegance. 

The drawing or defigning fchool is a 

fine long faloon, to which the light enters 

from above. It is divided into three clafles. 

F 4 Th* 






104 PRIMARY, OENTXAL, AND 

The firft is confined to the drawing of 
heads, hands, feet, &c. ; in the fecond, 
whole figures are drawn after defigns ; and 
in the "la ft from the life, and from fine mo- 
dels in gypfirm, of which the fchool has a 
•-.remarkably, good collection. Some very 
..fine defigns of tile pupils are hung up in 
-Jaoth. 

The Polytechnic School has two very large 
:and fine chemical laboratories, befides two 
of inferior extent, and fome mechanical 
workfhops. The director and adminiftra- 
tor have lodgings, at free coft, in the fchool. 
As . a ftrangef, I have attended feverai 
. le&ures, among which was the analytic, 
.by Lagrange. Whatever this great man 
fays, deferves the higheft degree of con- 
iideration ; but he is too abftraft for youth. 
In the examination of thefe lectures, it has 
been found, that he has difcovered a new 
demonstration of the firft principles of the 
, differential calculus; and his Solution des 
equations numhiques^de tons les degrts, Pa- 
ris, 17 Q7, merits attention. 

I have 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 105 

I have heard Prony's hydraulic le&ures, 
particularly on the motion of fluids through 
pipes, and on the undulation of water. 
This extraordinary man has the mod im- 
preffive and captivating delivery, which can 
poffibly be conceived. In the courfe of 
the laft year, he printed a text book of 
his ledtures, containing theorems and prob- 
lems, relating to his fubjedts, and a Iketch 
or Skeleton of the lectures themfelves. In 
the 7th year, Prony began a courfe, iiv 
which he propofed to demonstrate hydrau- 
lic theories in general. I bave heard fome 
of thofe lectures, which were excellent ; 
but I fear that few of his hearers (about 
twenty in all) will be able to keep pace 
with him. 

I have heard Fourcroy read on the fer- 
mentation of wines, and on the nature, 
quality, and preparation of alcohol. He 
made different experiments, to fhew that 
the flame of burning alcohol contains a 
variety of. colours, fuch as purple, violet, 
and green ; the laft of which appeared on 
F 5 mixing 



10(5 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

mixing with it a folution of vitriol of cop- 
per. Fourcroy's delivery is fine, orderly, 
and emphatic ; but perhaps a little too 
rapid,, for fome youths beginning the ftudy. 
When he had finished, he proceeded, in 
purfuance of a certain order, to examine 
from eight to fixtecn pupils. 

I have heard Hafcnfratz ledlure on elec- 
tricity, lightning and thunder. He con- 
cluded with an hiftorical detail of all the 
fyftem s of electricity ; but paffed over Sytn- 
mer's theory, or the dualiftic fyftem en- 
tirely. He adopted the theory of Epinus, 
which was become prevalent in Paris. 
Hauy has fince attacked the fyftem of Epi- 
nus, relative to electricity and magnetifm. 
He denies that the peals or claps of thunder 
proceed from the eledric fpark, which flies 
from one cloud to another, and burfts or 
ftrikes through the interjacent air, and in- 
iifts that it comes from a vacuum, produced 
by the condenfation of exhalations, which 
are converted into rain : if fo, there never 
would be any peals or claps of thunder, 

which 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 107 

which would not be accompanied with 
rain. I have alfo heard Hafenfratz lecture 
on machines. 

The obje6t of thofe lectures ought to be 
whatever relates to machinery, pra&ical 
mechanics, and the different modes by 
which the motions of the machines can be 
made to produce the different effe<5ts, fo as 
to attain the obje6t. I have not heard 
enough of thofe lectures to enable me to 
fay, how far this object may be attained. 
Hafenfratz is deficient in delivery. Once in 
each decade, he conducts his pupils to fee 
the machines, the management of the ma- 
nufactures, the rooms where the arts are 
carried on, and where mechanics work. I 
accompanied him, in one of his mechanical 
excursions, which are exceedingly ufeful, 
and furnifh the pupils with ideas, which 
they could not obtain in le&ure-halls or li- 
braries. 

It was peculiarly enadted, that each of 
the pupils fhould have 1200 lines • vear, 
but this was decreed in the times of the 
F 6 affignats ; 



108 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

affignats: fo that thofe 1200 livres ia 
paper yielded very little money, and not- 
vvithftanding the affignats are called in, 
the pupils received little more than 200 
livres a year, which amounted in the whole 
to 72,000 livres a year annually. The Mi- 
nifter of thelnterior, in the feventh year, de- 
fired the fum of 394,.J33 franks, for the ufe 
of thePolytechnic School ; and certainly the 
pains and expence of the Government are 
-well beftowed on an inftitution, which wili 
fuFriifh the ftate with fo many public fer- 
vants, and ufeful fubje£is. 

When the le&ures are clofed, which 
happened this year in Brumaire, there is an 
examination of all the pupils who have 
finifhed their courfe, and who would wifh 
to enter into the fchools deftined for the 
.accomplifhment of candidates for the pub- 
lic fervice, in the conftm6lion of roads and 
bridges, (hip-building, &c. or of thofe who 
would wiih to become matters in other 
ufeful ans. For the prefent examination, 
the Dire&ory appointed Laplace and Bof- 

fut. 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. 1Q§< 

fut. The firft examined the ftudents in the 
analytic fciences, and the other in mecha- 
nics. Thofe who were to be examined 
were called up in order, and were obliged 
to demonstrate without book the propofed 
theorems, and to folve the problems on a 
black table ; which was conlideredat once as 
a proof of talents and readinefs. Laplace 
propofed queftions in feries, logarithms, and 
curve lines, in that part of algebra which 
is applicable to geometry and trigonome- 
try, and in the differential and integral cal- 
culi. He propofed tvery queftion with 
much perfpicuity and precifion, and gently 
recalled the pupil to the jright point, if he* 
happened to wander from it. 

BofTut, in another room, examined in 
mechanics^ ftatics, hydroftatics, hydraulics, 
&c. I found moft of the pupils anfwer 
very well, and J with great readinefs, diffi- 
cult problems of the higher mathematics. 
But it muft not be expe&ed, that amongft 
fo many, fome would not be found of mo- 
derate and fome of indifferent talents. 

Defhauts-^ 



1 10 PRIMARY, CENTRAL, AND 

Befhautschamps, the dire&or, told me 3 
that Laplace, on the whole, was not well 
fatisfied, and that fome of the pupils were 
not entitled to that atteftation, by which 
alone they could be admitted into the 
Schools for the Public Service. He la- 
mented, and not without reafon, that. in 
thofe examinations, the young men were 
left without any occasional affiftance to 
their memory or conception, efpecially 
when they found themfelves bewildered in 
algebraic calculations. It is certain, that 
a wink would often fet them right, pro- 
vided they had underftanding and know- 
ledge enough to avail themfelves of it, 
which in itfclf would be a proof that they 
had not mis-fpent their time. I informed 
Deshautschamps, that with us public exa- 
minations were held in gunnery, naviga- 
tion, land-furveying, &e.; that part of thefe 
examinations was by word of mouth, and 
part in writing, that all the abltrufe theo- 
rems and problems were propofed in writ- 
ing, to which the candidate was required. 

to 



POLYTECHNIC SCHOOLS. Ill 

to give written anfwers, and that this me- 
thod allowed him time to refledl on the 
fubjecft, to arrange it in his mind, and to 
rcvife and corre6l his piece as often as he 
pleafed. Defhautscharnps highly approved 
of this mode, and faid he would fpare no 
pains to have it introduced* Thefe exa- 
minations were public, though I very fel- 
dom found that foreigners, and thofe who 
were not in fome meafure connected with 
the Polytechnic School, were prefent. 



LETTER 



%\Qi SCHOOLS FOR 



LETTER VI. 

SCHOOLS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, VIZ. FOR 
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND 
BRIDGES, FOR MINERALOGY, GEOGRA- 
PHY, SHIP-BUILDING, ARTILLERY, FOR- 
TIFICATION, NAVIGATION, &C. 

SchooLhoufe formerly a Vol ace — Colleftvm of 
Models — Library- — -Courfe of Study and Sa- 
lary of the Students— Mineralogical School 
and Collefiion — Profejfors — Laboratory 
— Learned Ladies^ not" always pretty and 
neat — Gravimeter, not equal to a good hy- 
drojiatlc Balance — hiftrument for meafuring 
the Angles of Cryftals — lnjlrument for 
afcertaining fmall Degrees of Magnetifm 
and Ele&ricity — Geographical School — 
School for Naval Architecture — Marine 
Depofitory — Artillery Schools—^ Fortifica- 
tion School — Marine Schools. 

IN the preceding letter, I have given an 
account of the Central Schools, and of 
the excellent management of thofe called 

the 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 113 

the Polytechnic. When any one has punc- 
tually attended the Polytechnic fchools for 
a term not lefs than one year, and under- 
gone an -examination, he is then admitted 
to fome of the " Schools for Public Ser- 
vices ;"" or, as they are fometimes called, 
" Schools of Application." The pupils, 
foon after their appointment, obtain a fmall 
emolument, and afterwards pafs from 
thence to the fervice of the ftate, when an 
opportunity occurs. Thele Schools of Ap- 
plication are for the confiru£iion of roads 
and bridges, for mineralogy, geography, Jhif- 
building, artillery, fortification, and nautical 
affairs. 

The School for conftfu&ing Roads and 
Bridges, is fituated in the Rue Grenelle, and 
was formerly a palace of the Duke de la 
Chatel. It is difpofed and embellifhed with 
confummate tafte and magnificence ; and 
contains a number 6f excellent apartments : 
theftyle, indeed, of the building, efpecially 
of the twofalodns in front, is not very con- 
fident with the mbdefty of a public fchool, 

but 



114 SCHOOLS FOR 

but this congruity would be dearly pur-* 
chafed^ by reducing the grandeur of the 
edifice to a level with its prefent ufe. Fru- 
daine was, in the time of monarchy, the 
firft founder of this fehool. Peronnet, au- 
thor of an excellent work, entitled " De- 
fer ipt ion des Projets et de la ConjiruBion des 
Fonts * has finee greatly contributed to its 
improvement. The bulls of both thofe 
able men, the firft of bronzed platter, and 
the other of marble, are fet up in the fchool- 
room. 

Two of the apartments are appropriated 
to the mufeum, in which are not only 
draughts, but alfo models of buildings and 
machines, which relate in any refpedl, to 
the conftrudtion of roads and bridges, fuch 
as all ibrts of rammers for driving vertical 
and inclined piles, five different models for 

* The iirft edition of this work confuted of two 
volumes In folio ; the fecond ami improved edition is 
in quarto, and the -improvements have been printed 
in folio, for the accommodation of fuch as were in 
poifeiTion of the fiift edition. 

fa wing 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 115 

(awing piles under water, in imitation of 
an Englifh machine, which is very iimple, 
cheap, and certain in its effects ; various 
models of machines for railing water, o{ 
forcing pumps, and of fluices for canals ; 
alfo models of the moft remarkable bridges 
on the large rivers of Europe, of bridges 
formerly built in France, chiefly by Peron~ 
net, and of the Pont Neuf 'at Paris, which is 
built very flat, and is uncommonly ftrong ; 
models of the bridges at Neuilly, Nantes, 
Orleans, Branoi, Nonnettes, Bicherot, &c. 
together with draughts and models of 
every thing that relates to nautical archi- 
tecture, fome of the moft remarkable of 
which are the caiflbns at Cherburgh. 
Thefe have not fulfilled the public expec- 
tation ; becaufe, as" Prony fuppofes, they 
have been badly executed. Though, how- 
ever, the bafons are fmall, and completely 
filled, yet the anchorage within the cones 
is tolerably fecure. All thefe models of 
thefchool for the conftructing of roads an d 
bridges are neat, accurate, and excellent ; 
they are placed in the moft beautitul order, 

and 



11 6 SCHOOLS FOR 

and there is in no country whatever, a finer 
and more complete colle&ion. 

The fchocl has a fine- library of about 
two thoufand five hundred volumes of good 
mathematical treatifes, chiefly relating to 
hydroftatics, hydraulics, water- works, roads,, 
and bridges. In the four rooms for in- 
ftru&ion, the ftudents are taught the ele- 
ments of phyfics and mathematics ; and to 
draw plans and fketches of roads, bridges,, 
canals, harbours, and all kinds of buildings 
conne&ed with them. They alfo learn to 
fuperintend the a<£kial construction of 
buildings, to manage the expences, and 
take an account of the annual rents. The 
number of ftudents was fifty, thirty fix of 
whom had a penfion of feventy franks per 
month, or eight hundred and forty franks 
per annum. Their courfe of fludy is ufu- 
ally completed in two years £ before they 
quit the fchool, and frequently whilft they 
refide there, they undergo examinations, 
and are obliged to refolve problems and 
^ueftions, relative to the practical part of 

their 



PUBLIC SERVICES. I \f 

their profeffion. Prony, fhewed me .Tome 
of thefe queftions; moil oT which were 
difficult, and related to roads, • bridges, 
fluices, &c. The folutions were acconv 
panied by excellent drawings of plans and 
Tedtions, and with exa6V calculations and 
circumstantial accounts of the expences at- 
tending them. The prefent managers are 
the directors Chezy and Prony, and the in- 
infpedfor Le Sage, who exert themfelves to 
the utmoft, in preferving every thing in a 
fiate of order and activity. 

The Mineralogical School, No. 2Q3, 
Univerfity -ftreet, has a large and rich col- 
lection of minerals difpofed in glazed cafes. 
The collection occupies fix different apart- 
ments, and is divided into the three follow- 
ing clafles : 1. The docimaftic colle&ion. 
3. A geographic collection of French mi- 
nerals. 3. An oryclognoftic or fyftematic 
collection, illuftratcd by models in wood of 
the principal varieties of cryftallization, 
after the fyftem ;und difcoveries of Hauy. 
The geognoftic collection is; included ip 

the 



1 18 SCHOOLS FOR 

the three former. There are alfo depofited 
here collections of draughts and models 
of mines, and of tools, inftruments, and 
machines for the ufe of miners. The ap- 
pointed number of ftudents is twenty, 
Hauy is keeper of the cabinet of minerals, 
and Vauquelin fuperintends the chemical 
department. Clouet is librarian and teacher 
of the German language. 

The lectures for the 7th year, or winter 
of Q8-Q9 are -the following : 

Baillet, infpc6tor of the fchools, 1 eft u res 
every firft and fixth day of the decade, on 
the art of mining. 

Hafenfratz, infpe<%or, .leisures every fe- 
cond and eighth day on mineralogy and 
metallurgy. 

Vauquelin, infpe&or, lecture^ every third 
and feventh day on docimacy. 

Brongmart, the younger, le&urcs every 
fecond and eighth day on mineralogy. 

Cloruet teaches drawing, Clouet the 
German language, And Lefroy defcriptive 
geometry. 

The 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 1\§ 

The celebrated and learned Dolomleu is 
both infpedlor and lecturer of the mineral 
fchool ; but he and two of the beft ftudenis 
are in Egypt, The lecturers deliver their 
iaftrudtions in winter only : the fummer 
being generally fpent in making experi- 
ments at the laboratory, or in making tours 
to the various mining diftricts. This fchool 
has an admirable laboratory belonging to it, 
under the infpeftion of Vauquelin ; the 
fame who, in conjunction with Fourcroy, has 
made fo many noble difcoveries in modern 
chemiftry. Vauquelin was- not prefent, the 
firft time I was there ; but two filters of 
Fourcroy, who live at Vauquclin's, were fo 
good as to (hew me this beautiful labora- 
tory. They feemed to be well informed of 
every thing there, and told me, that they 
often affifted their brother and Vauquelin 
in chemical operations ; but the old faying, 
that learned females are not always the hand'- 
fomejl and neat eft, was verified in the perfons 
£>f both thofe chemical ladies. 

The chearful, kind, and obliging, Hauy 

refides 



120 SCHOOLS FOR 

refides at the Mineral School, as do alfo 
moft of the infpeflors and lecturers. On 
my firft vifit, I found him engaged in de- 
termining the fpecific gravity of a calcedon 
by means of Guiton's gravimeter. This in- 
ftrument is an improved areometer. The 
body, whofe weight is to be determined, is 
firft put into the upper fcale above water, 
and afterwards into the lower under water, 
and in both circumftances the areometer is 
introduced, and links to a certain mark, 
obferved on the glafs or flip of wood af- 
fixed. If my memory do not fail me, 
this inftrument is defcribed in Gren's Phy- 
sical Journal, and is very much like the 
areometer of Hauy and Nicholfon. It is 
made either of glafs only, or with a thin 
piece of metal, affixed by the ingenious 
glafs-worker Betaly. That of glafs, by 
which one can determine the weight of 
twenty gramma, or three-fourths of an 
ounce, cofts thirty-fix franks, or thirty {hil- 
lings. 

This inftrument has feveral defe&s. 

], Small 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 121 

1. Small articles cannot be weighed by it. 

2. It is very difficult to determine whe- 
ther the mark is above or under the exa£t 
furface of the water, 3. The weight eaa 
fcarcely be determined, to any certainty, 
nearer than one-fixth or one eighth part of 
a grain. Jn my opinion, the fpecific gra- 
vity of bodies can be determined with 
greater accuracy, by means of a good hy- 
droftatic balance. 

The figures of cryftallized bodies were 
inveftigated, and in fome degree deter- 
mined by Deliile. Hauy has fince thrown 
much light on the fubjech He has con- 1 
trived an inftrument for meafuring the an- 
gles of cryftals, which confiits of two 
fmall wires moveable about), a. fine pin. 
The one carries a finely graduated - feas- 
or anglc-meafurer, and the bthe£ extends - 
over the icale ; fo that when the angle .. of 
the cry ft al is included between thofq;two? 
wires, the fcale mealurcs a fpace equal to • 
the vertical angle. There is alio a mecha- I 
nic#l contrivance, which fixes the limbs till 
G the 



"122- 



SCHOOLS FOR 



the inftrument be taken off the body, in or- 
der to obferve the magnitude of the angle. 
Hauy has difcovered a method of deter- 
mining the forms and angles, not only of 
particular falts, but alfo of ftones, earths, 
and metals, and he has exhibited beautiful 
fpecimens of this method, as pra6tifed on 
fubje&s in his own colteflion. He took a 
regular piece of quartz:, and, from different 
examinations of the exa6l meafurement of 
the fpace it occupied, immediately derived 
the.cryftalline ftru6lure of the body, which 
is two oppofite pyramids, whofe common 
bafe is a redlangle differing little from a 
fquare. A man refides in the fchool, whole 
employment it is to cut in wood, the diffe- 
rent forms and figures of cryftals, under the 
diredion of Hauy. 

Thus has Hauy brought mineralogy, by 
the figures of its objedls, and his own cal- 
culations, under the dominion of geome- 
try. He has publifhed a Journal of mine- 
ralogy {Journal des Mines) and Coquebert 
has edited his Inftruffions to the Students at 

the 



HUBLIC SERVICES, 123 

the School-, but thefe works have not yet 
reached the hands of the bookfellers. 

Hauy is at prefent engaged on an ex- 
tenfive and complete fyftem of mineralogy, 
in which he gives the character of every 
mineral as depending: 1, on external 
appearances ; 2, on the forms and figures 
of its cryftals ; and 3, on chemical analy- 
fis and fynthefis. He had feen fome letters 
and minerals from Profeflbr Abildgaard, in 
the hands of Mr. Ingverfeu. Both the 
gentlemen were particularly intereiting to 
him, and he often teftffied the grcateft re- 
ipedl for the merit of our countryman. I 
introduced to Hauy, Dr. Engelftoft, Mr # 
Horneman, and Mr. Bang; and he feemed 
very ready to render any fervice in his 
power to this promifing young man. The 
Danifh minerals prefented to him he b is 
already analyfed, and has determined not 
only their phyfical, but their geometrical, 
properties. 

Hauy had a pair of fmall inftruments for 
G 2 afcer- 



a 24 



SCHOOLS FOR 



afcertaining minute degrees of magnetifm 
and elediricity. On a fmall round ftand is 
fixed a well turned fteel pin, an inch in 
height ; and on this point, or pin, is placed 
a moveable needle, repeatedly magnetifed, 
and about two inches in length. He took 
different iron ores, which he arranged in a 
flraight and apparently exa6l line, coincid- 
ing with the required polar line, making 
thereby, in fa£t, a collection of feveral final! 
and weak magnets. When, for inftance, 
the cryftallized iron ore from Norway is 
ufed, in order to afcertain the fmall degree 
of eledlricity, a brafs needle is put inftead 
of the magnetized one. Before the needle 
and in a line with it, muft be laid a 
piece of rofin barely electrified, and over it 
a ftick of fealing wax. This is a negative 
ele&ric; and, fince every body which corned 
into a negatively ele&ric atmofphere, be- 
comes pofitively ele&ric, the needle will 
be pofitive. Hauy fhewed me very clearly 
that different kinds of ftones, by being 

heated, 



PUBLIC SERVICES, 125 

bcated ; become elccftric, fhowing the pofi- 
iive ele&ricity by repelling the needle, and 
the negative by attracting it. 

Before I clofe this account of the Mine- 
ralogical School, I muft obferve, that this 
was to be only a theoretic fchool ; that a 
practical fchool was to be eftablifhed in 
a mining diftrici ; and that Giromagny, 
in the department of the Upper Rhine, 
was the place fixed upon ; but this fchool 
has not been yet organized. The Mine- 
ralogical School at Paris has, in the mean 
time, been regulated and modified in fuch 
a manner, that it unites the objedls of 
a theoretic and a practical fchool. There 
is annually publifhed, by the profefibrs of 
this inflitution, a very important work, en- 
titled " Journal des Mines" 

The Geographical School, under the di- 
redlion and management of Prony, is at- 
tended by twenty ftudents, who are taken 
from among fuch as have completed their 
eourfe in the Polytechnic. Here they are 
taught every branch which relates to the 
G 3 meafurc- 



126 



SCHOOLS FOR 



measurement of land, the drawing of maps, 
and fuch problems as occur in trigonome- 
try, aftronomy, and. mathematical geogra- 
phy. The ftudents then proceed to a 
finifhed method of planning, and to make 
aftronomical obfervatioos, which they ap- 
ply to the determination of latitudes, lon- 
gitudes, and meridian lines ; and to the 
conftrudlion of geographical maps. The 
ftudents undergo an examination in all 
thefe fubje&s, before they quit the fchool. 
The School for Naval Architecture is in 
the Rue Dominique, No. 10l6. This in- 
ftitution exifted at Paris long before the 
Revolution, and the managers admitted 
whomfoever they pleafed. But this cuftom 
has been altered, and no one can be now 
admitted, who has not firft ftudied at the 
Polytechnic. The ftudents have each 
3 500 francs pen annum, and are taught 
mechanics, hydroftatics and hydraulics, as 
far as they relate to naval affairs ; to draw 
plans and fcdlions of (hips of war, to give 
an exa& account of their expence, and even 

to 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 127 

to fuperintend the building of them. This 
fchool is obliged to admit annually, from 
among the private merchants, five pupils 
who are alfo inftrudted in naval architec- 
ture. 

The fiudents had formerly their drawings 
at the Louvre, where the National Iniiitute 
is now held, and where is ftill to be feen a 
collection of naval models. But in lieu of 
this place, they have at prefent a General 
Marine Depofitory, in Rue Vendome. This 
fituation is a much finer ore, and the pre- 
fent depofitory contains a more elegant and 
ufeful collection of naval models and draw- 
ings. Borda and Dudin are diredlors of 
this fchool, and Laplace is the examiner, 
Tilts is profeffor of mathematics, and Po- 
met of architecture. Deparcieux ledlures 
on phyfics, and Fourcroy on chemiftry, 
and Daubenton teaches the itudents draw- 
ing. I muft confefs that there is too much 
of phyfics and chemiftry delivered here, 
when it is confidered, that the fludents are 
from twenty to twenty-four years of age, 
G 4 and 



128 



SCHOOLS TOT, 



and have attended to both fubjedls, not 
only in the Central School, but alfo in the 
Polytechnic ; fo that they rnaft have ne- 
cefiarily acquired liifficient knowledge of 
them 3 and their ftudies might now be more 
advantageoufly conducted, than in attend- 
ing to thefe fciences a third time. 

Artillery Schools. The great prepara- 
tory fchool, for ftudents in artillery, is at 
Chalons fur Marne. The directors of the 
fchool are a chef de brigade and a chef de 
haitaillon. There always refide in this fchool 
two captains of artillery, a lecturer on phy- 
fics and ehemiftry, two on mathematics, 
two on fortification, and a drawing matter, 
Laplace is the prefent examiner. Thofe 
fhidents who wifh to enter into the artil- 
lery fervice, are obliged to ftudy for at leaft 
two years at the Polytechnic. They th*n 
enter, after a clofe examination, into the 
regiment of artillery ; but muft ftill profe- 
cute a necefiary and extcnfive ftudy of 
drawings, fortifications, and the warlike 
preparations connected with the artillery 

fervice, 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 129 

fervice, in the School of Application be- 
longing to their refpective regiments. 

The following is a lift of the Schools of 
Application, with the places where they are 
eflablilhed. The fir ft fchool is at La Fere, 
the fecond at Befanqon, the third at Gre- 
noble, the fourth at Mentz, the fifth at 
Strafbourg, thefixthat Bouai, and the fe- 
venth at Auxonne. In each are a teacher 
of the mathematics, a private teacher and a 
drawing mafter ; and every fchool is placed 
under the infpeclion of a general of bri- 
gade of the artillery. There are to be two 
more artillery fchools, one at Thouloufe 
and the other at Rennes, but they are not 
yet organized. The artillery fchool at 
Chalons is to continue in its prefcnt ftate 
till peace be concluded, when it will un- 
dergo a new regulation, and it is fuppofed 
that the preparatory fchool will be re- 
moved to Paris* 

The Fortification School] with which that 

of the Miners is united, is at Metz, and efta* 

blifhed in the ci-devant abbey of St. Ar- 

G 5 nould, 



130 SCHOOLS FOR 

nould. The number of pupils is not to 
exceed twenty: they muft be all taken 
from the Polytechnic, and, when examined 
and admitted into this fchool, are imme- 
diately made fecond lieutenants, and re- 
ceive the pay due to that rank. Here they 
are taught to apply their theoretic know- 
ledge in founding, and actually building, 
works of defence and fortification, in min- 
ing and countermining, in defending and 
beiieging places, in drawing military plans 
and maps, and in every art and fcience 
which belongs to the bulinefs of an engi- 
neer, both in fortified places and in the 
field. The School at Metz is under the 
infpe&ion of a general and two chefs de 
brigade, who all three belong to the depart- 
ment of fortification. 

The Marine Schools are eftablifhed at 
Breft, Toulon, and Rochefort. The ftu- 
dents are admitted into them after previous 
examination in arithmetic, algebra, geo- 
metry, ftatics, and navigation. I have not 
been able to procure any certain account of 

the 



PUBLIC SERVICES. 131 

the number of fcholars, or of their plan of 
ftudy. It was propofed and ordered, that 
a corvette fhould be annually equipped for 
different expeditions, with ftudents on 
board, who fhould be inftru6led in rigging 
and unrigging a veffel, and taught by prac- 
tical knowledge and experience, every thing 
which belongs to the duty of a mariner. But 
the war has in fome meafure obftru6led the 
execution of this commendable decree. 

The Navigation Schools are intended for 
teaching mathematics and hydrography 
both to officers in the navy, and thofe of 
merchant (hips. By a decree of the 30th 
of Vendemiaire, in the fourth year, " thefe 
fchools were to continue in the ftate in 
which they had hitherto been," and the 
Marine Minifter was directed to eftablifh 
two other fchools, one at Morlaix and the 
other at Aries. 



G 6 LETTER 



132 



SCHOOLS FOE MEDICINE, 



LETTER VII. 



Schools for medicine, pharmacy, ani* 
the fine arts the french col- 
LEGE* 

Medical School — Colle&ions of anatomical 
Preparations, &c. — Philofophical Appa- 
ratus — Library^ — Amphitheatre — Lectures 
* — Students from one Thoufand to one 
' Thou fand two Hundred — Free School for 
Pharmacy — Military Hofpital — Lettures 
there — Free School for Painting — Na- 
tional School for Architecture — French 
College — Lectures there — Public Ajfembly 
of it, and Proceedings on the Occajion — 
Hint to Ladies to make themfelves vfeful y 
by vifiting and attending the Sick. 

THE Medical School is very beautifully 
fituated in Rue des Cordeliers. It 
contains — 1. A great number of excellent 

anatomical 



PHARMACY, AND THE FINE ARTS. 133 

anatomical preparations, and imitations 
made of wax ; 2. A valuable col legion- of 
chirurgical inftruments ; 3. A ftnall philo- 
fophical apparatus ; 4. A Targe library, con- 
fitting of works on phyfiology, chennriftry, 
anatomy, furgery and medicine; 5. A truly 
magnificent le&ure room, or amphithe- 
atre ; and 6. A beautiful chemical labo- 
ratory and reading room. The lecturers 
are two in number to each of the following 
divifions: 1. Anatomy and phyfiology ; 
2* Medical chemiftry and pharmacy ; 3* In- 
ternal pathology ; 4. External pathology ; 
5. Natural hiftory and botany ; 6. Medi- 
cal operations; 7. Treatment of internal cli- 
nical cafes; 8. External clinical cafes; Q. Mo- 
dern improvements in treating fuch cafes ; 
10. Midwifery; 11. Medlclna Florenfis. 
There is but one profeflbr in each of the 
remaining divifions. 12. Hiftory and de- 
fcription of rural accidents; 13. Medical 
bibliography; 14. Materia Medica and chi- 
rurgical inftruments. — There are befides, a 
draughtfman and modeller in wax. A room 

is 



134 SCHOOLS FOR MEDICINE, 

is now building for the library ; in the place 
where the books now are, the anatomical 
preparations will be depofited, and more 
convenient apartments will be appointed 
for the chirurgical and philofophical inftru- 
ments, and for the objects of the Materia 
Medica. This fchool is carried on with 
great induftry, and the number of ftudents 
amount to from one thoufand to one thou- 
fand two hundred. 

The body of apothecaries of Paris, in the 
year 1777> were formed into a regular col- 
lege. They have a laboratory and a botanic 
garden in the Rue de T Arbaletre^ where lec- 
tures are publicly delivered on chemiflry, 
pharmacy, botany, and natural hiftory ; and 
at the annual clofe of thofe leclures, pre- 
miums are befiowed on the mod able and di- 
ligent ftudents. In the fourth year of the Re- 
public, the college formed itfelf into a free 
Society, for the cultivation of the fcientific 
purfuits connected with their profeffion, 
and admitted members from all the depart- 
ments of France, and even from hoftile 

countries. 



PHARMACY, AND THE FINE ARTS. 135 

countries. By a decree of the 3d Prairiak, 
in the 5th year, the Directory, in a mefTage 
to the minifter of the interior, approved and 
confirmed its fyilem of public inftrudtion, 
and gave it the name of The Free School 
of Pharmacy. In this fchool are two lec- 
turers on pharmaceutic chemiftry, together 
with an honorary profeilbr and an adjunct % 
two on pharmaceutic natural hiftory, and 
the Materia Medica, with an adjundt ; and 
two on botany, with an adjundl. This free 
Pharmaceutic School confifts at prefent of 
one hundred and twenty-three regular, 
and fifty two correfponding, members. A 
journal is published by this fociety, under 
the title of " Journal de Pharmacies To 
the clafs of inftitutions for furgery and me- 
dicine, is to be annexed The Military Hofp- 
tal for Liftru&ion in Rue St. Jacques, not 
far from the National Obfervatory. It was 
formerly that well known and beautiful 
building Val de Grace. 

According to the Programma, or account 
of the inftitutions, the following lectures 

were 



136 



SCHOOLS FOR MEDICINE, 



were delivered there, in the 7th year, or 
from the 22d of September, 1798, to the 
21ft of September, 1799. The firft, or 
winter courfe, confifted of, lft, Anatomy, 
with phyfiologieal obfervations, by Huttier; 
2dly, Internal pathology, by Chairon; 3dly, 
PradHeal medicine, and particularly clinical 
cafes, by Gibbert ; 4thly. Pra&ical furgery, 
by Barbier ; 5thly, Natural hiftory, with 
reference to the Materia Medica and phar- 
macy, by Perinet. In the fummer half year 
were explained, lit, Pharmaceutic chemif- 
try, by Brougniart ; 2dly, Obfervations on 
gun- (hot wounds, by Dufouart ; 3dly, The 
difeafes andf fetting of the bones, by Hut- 
tier ; 4thly, Botany, by Barbier, who takes 
botanic excurfions with the pupils. 

Clinical le&ures are read by all the fix^ 
profeflbrs in medicine and furgery, with 
medical conferences and prefcriptions in 
the morning; and, in the afternoon, confu- 
tations are held, on clinical difeafes, in the 
amphitheatre. 

In the lad decade of Thermidor, or 

' about 



T-HARMACY, AND THK FINE ARTS. 137 

febout the middle of Auguft, a general exa- 
mination of the ftudents take place, in or- 
der to confer premiums on fuch as have 
diftinguifhed themfelves by affiduity in the 
fervice of the hofpital, or by attending the 
lectures and acquiring knowledge. 

The Free School for Painting is in Rue 
des Cordeliers. This patriotic inftitution was 
eilablifhed thirty years ago, and was at firft 
■a private foundation for inftru6iing in the 
principles of drawing, one thoufand fire 
hundred children, intended for artifts or 
profeftbrs, but it is now rendered quite ge- 
neral. Every fir ft, fourth, and feventh day, 
of the decade, the ftudents are taught arith- 
metic, practical geometry, ftatuary, per- 
fpe&ive and architecture; every fecond, 
fifth, and eighth day, they paint men and 
animals ; and every third, fixth, and ninth 
day, they draw flowers and ornaments. Of 
this fchool there are two directors, who ma- 
nage its concerns, a cafhier and five lec- 
turers. 

The 



138 SCHOOLS FOR MEDICINE, 

The National School for Architecture is 
at the Louvre, or National Palace for Arts 
and Sciences, and confifts of a profeflbr of 
geometry, who, at the fame time, fhowsthe 
application of that fcience to architecture, 
and of a profeflbr, whofe bufinefs it is to 
teach architecture in particular, with its 
fubfidiary arts. 

The French College is fituated in the 
Place de Cambray, clofe to Rue St. Jacques? 
and is a very ancient inftitution. Lewis the 
Twelfth, and Lewis theThirteenth enlarged 
it, and either repaired or new built moft of 
the prefent edifice. This college is the 
only inftitution of the kind which has not 
undergone fome change during the revolu- 
tion. To give you an accurate idea of 
what is taught here, I fhall fubjoin a lift of 
the le&urers for this year, 1799? in the or- 
der communicated to me by Lalande. 

Jerome de Lalande is infpe6tor of the Col- 
lege and profeflbr of aftronomy. All the 
parts of aftronomy, with their ufe in navi- 

gation, 



PHARMACY, AND THE FINE ARTS. 139 

gation, are explained by that diftinguifhed 
in after, or in his abfence, by Francis de La- 
landc. 

Manduit, profeflbr of geometry, lectures 
on that fcience, and on trigonometry and 
algebra. 

Coufiriy profeflbr of theoretic phyfics, 
lectures on the Analyfis Infinitorum, with its 
applications, particularly to mechanics. 

Lefevre Gineau, profeflbr of experimental 
philofophy, gives a complete courfe on that 
fubject. 

Boer chart y profeflbr of medicine, explains 
StolPs aphorifms on fevers and feverifh 
difeafes. 

Portal, profeflbr of anatomy, le&ures on 
the caufes and feat of difeafes. 

Darcet, profeflbr of chemiftry, explains 
the chemical analyfis of different fub- 
ftances. 

Daubenton, profeflbr of natural hiftory, 
difcourfes on that fcience, at the mufeum 
in the botanic garden. 

Bouchard^ 



14.0 



CH COLLEGE. 



>f natural and popular 
'itical rights. 
Levpjque, profeffor of hiftory and mora- 

1 enures on the hif- 
, politicn.1, literary, and phi- 
uhical, 

ej profeffor of the Hebrew and Sy~ 
languagcs, expounds the text of the 
fourth and fifth books of Mofes. 

Cauffitt) profeffor of the Arabic, teaches 
hrs pupils to read and write that language, 
and to tranflate Lockman's fables, and a 
part of Bilpai's. moral and political work, 

Prnlk, profeffor of Turkifh and Per- 
fian, or in his abfence Sylvefire Lacy r 
explains the firft principles of the Perfiaa 
language, Hafez Oder, and the Expedi- 
tion of Diamis Behariftan. 

Bo/quillon, profeffor of Greek, delivers 
philological commentaries on the Prog- 
nofticon of Hippocrates ; and Gait, profef- 
for of the fame language, expounds the Co- 
rotia of Demofthencs*. 

Dupuh % 



THE FRENCH COLLEGE. 141 

D'upuiSy profeflbr of Latin eloquence, and 
in his abfence, Guerouh, interprets Tacitus 
De Oratoribiis. 

Delijle, profeflbr of poetry, or in his ab- 
fence, Sells, explains the principles of poe- 
try in general, and of cpiitles in particular ; 
he expounds moft of Horace's epiftles, and 
compares that poet with Boiieau, Rofleau, 
Yoltaire and Pope. 

Conrand) profeflbr of French literature, 
treats of French literature, as compared 
with that of Greece and Rome, beginning 
with French fables. Each of the above- 
named profeflbrs delivers four ledlures in 
every decade. 

It is evident, from the nature of this in- 
fiitution, and of the leisures delivered, that 
in France the utmoft attention is ftill given 
to Grecian, Roman, and Oriental litera- 
ture. But as the youths are only initiated 
in the languages, at the Central Schools, 
the profeflbrs, at the French College, are 
under the neceffity of beginning with the 
firft principles of language, and of courfe 

can 



142 



THK FRENCH COLLEGE. 



can make but a flow progrefs. Of thefc 
feventeen profeflbrs, fix, together with the 
infpedior, live in the College. In the Cen- 
tral Schools alfo, feveral of the profeflbrs 
refide on the fpot. 

By an invitation of Lalande, 1 was prefent 
on the 26th Brumaire (l 6th November), 
at a public aflembly of the French College. 
A meeting of this kind is annually held at 
the commencement of the lectures. The 
Auditorium of the College is a large and 
elegant hall, beautifully painted. The del- 
ing, in particular, is covered with this fine 
fpecies of decoration. In the middle of the 
hall, is a very long table covered with cloth, 
about which are feats for the minifler, pro- 
feflbrs, and vifitors. On both fides of the 
table, there are forms for other hearers ;. but 
thefe are inconvenient, and rather too far 
diftant, fo that one cannot come fufficiently 
forwards. The hall was tolerably well illu- 
minated ; but fuch a ftrong and difagree- 
able current of air pafled through it, that 
the wax candles, both in the chande- 
lier* 



THE FRENCH COLLEGE. 143 

lie^s and on the table, melted away before 
they were half burnt, and the meeting, near 
its clofe, was aimoft in the dark. 

About feven o'clock came Fraitcis de 
Neufchateau, Minifter for the Interior, at* 
tended by the profeftbrs of the college, and 
he took his feat at the head of the table, on 
the right of the infpeclor De Lalande. The 
minifter appeared in his public drefs, and 
was accompanied by his adjutants, officers, 
and other attendants. Lalande opened the 
meeting with an oration, or rather a pr^- 
le£lio 9 in which he briefly enumerated the 
le&ures on different branches of fcience, 
which were to be commenced. He then 
exhibited a few biographical Iketches of 
fome of the deceafed ledlurers of this col- 
lege ; and proceeded to give an account of 
his aftronomical labours, and of the many 
thoufands of telefcopic ftars which he had 
obferved, in conjunction with his nephew, 
Francis Lalande. Much of his difcourfe 
was taken up with feparate narrations, which 
unavoidably produced frequent and abrupt 

tranfitions. 



144 



THE FIIEKCH COLLEGE. 



tranfitions. The biftory of aftronomy can- 
Hot be unknown to thofe who read the 
Connoijfance des Temps^ much of the con- 
tents of which had already appeared in 
Zach's Geographical Ephemeris : as an 
inftance* we may mention the account that 
Dr. Burehardt, who refided a year with La~ 
lande as a ftudent in aftronomy, had calcu- 
lated to a day, the orbit of a comet. 

C. DepiuSy author of Origlne de Cultes, 
recited fome hiftorical accounts of the Pe- 
lafgi, in which he introduced rather violent 
fallies againft kings in general, and againft 
all ftates which were not republics, inter- 
larding, however, his philippic with fome 
ftrong eulogia on Bonaparte, and feveral 
compliments to Francis de Neufchateau. 
Molt of the gentlemen who fpoke offered 
to that minifter fome incenfe of commen- 
dation, which indeed the worthy man per- 
fectly merited. But, from what pafled, one 
might fee that the captatio Venevohntlte 
exifts in republics, as well as in monarchical 



governments. 



Bofquiloln 



THE FUETtfCH COLLEGE. 143 

Bofquillon recited fome aphorifms of Hip- 
pocrates ; but his delivery was bad, and his 
voice fo indiftin6l, that I could not com- 
prehend the whole of bis meaning. 

Delifle recited part of a poem on Youth, 
a work on which he is at prefent engaged. 

The mathematician, Couffin, read a pleat- 
ing effay on Benevolence towards the Poor 
and Sick. He particularly wifhed that the 
Ladies would make themfelves ufefid by vijit- 
ir t g the fick, and even by attending the hofpi- 
tals. 

Gail, profeflbr of Greek literature, recited 
a tra£l on the Spartan Republic, being 
part of a work which he intends to publifh : 
he concluded with feveral tranflations from 
Anacreon. Gail's genius appeared to much 
better advantage, in hifiorical and profe 
composition, than in poetry. 

The whole hall was crouded with audi- 
tors, among whom was a party of ladies, 
who, by clapping of hands, affifted in ap- 
plauding the fpeakers, and particularly 
Couffin, who introduced into his difcourfe 
H fome 






140 THIS FRENCH COLLEGE, &C. 

fome beautiful fketches^and admirable traits 
of the liberality and tenderncfs of the fair 
fex. 

The French College has a collection of 
philofophical inftruments, the greateit part 
of which formerly belonged to the old in- 
IHtution. This college has alfo an obfer- 
vatory ; but I rauft defer the defcription of 
it till another opportunity, when I fhall give 
an account of the great national obferva- 
tory, and others of lefs note, which I have 
vilited at Paris, 



LETTER 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 14/ 



LETTER VIII. 

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL 
HISTORY. 

Library, Menagerie, &c of this Mufeufn — 
Its Botanic Garden — Rnglijhfaid to have 
feized Baudouins Collection, v:hich their 
Government had promifed to pretext — Gal- 
lery for Natural Hi/lory — Vaillanfs fru- 
gal Prefent to the Mufeitm- — Diamond Jio- 
lenfrom it — Collection of Quadrupeds, Ze- 
bra, Elephant, &c. — Directorial Palace — 
Collection of Skeletons — Library of Bo- 
tany, &c» — Paintings and Drawings of 
Aiiimals and Plants — Menagerie for wild 
mid tame Animals — Leffure Room, a real 
Amphitheatre — Lecturers and Officers — 
Statues of Linnaus and Buffon—JVanton 
Outrages of the Mob, at the Revolution— 
Dead dug up— Body of Turenne, Jlill un- 
H 2 decay ed) 



j4 8 NATIONAL MUSEUM 

decayed, /harmfully expofed — CJtefis Jl'M 
unpacked, filled with Puriofities from the 
conquered Countries. 

rTlHE National Mufeum of Natural hi f- 
JL tory was formerly . called Jardin du 
Roi ; but received its prefent name by a de- 
cree of the National, Convention of the 10th 
qf June, 1793. One end of it extends to 
the Seine : it confifts of a botanic garden 5 
library for natural hiftory, a menagerie, or 
colfcdion of foreign animals, and an am- 
phitheatre, or ledlure room. 

The botanic garden which belongs. to it 
is three hundred and twenty toifes, or fa- 
thoms, long, and one hundred »and ten in 
breadth. It is partitioned lengthways, thqt 
is, from its entrance down towards the Seine, 
by three very fine alleys ; ?nd interfe&ed 
acrofs by various others, which terminate 
in th e public promenades, or walfcs. The 
different fqu are divisions thus formec), are 
~ufed for plantations, and are at prefent all 
uclofed with raiUvork. The grcen-houfe 

and 



OF NATURAL HISTORY. 14Q 

and orangerie were formerly in pretty good 
order, and feparated into rooms and fpaces. 
But a new grcen-houfe and orangerie are 
now additionally ere&ed, and they are 
very conveniently difpofed. Here is a great 
abundance of foreign plants and 'tree's, and 
from hence all the botanic gardens of the 
Central Schools are fupplied with feeds, and 
with trees, as foon as they can be tranf- 
planted. From the fame highly cultivated 
ipot, the cultivators of land can procure 
ceconomic and nurfery trees, and even the 
indigent poor can obtain plants, when they 
can be fpared. 

Captain Baudouin, in his travels into 
different parts of the world, had collected a 
great variety of natural curiofities ; and pre- 
iented the whole to the nation, on condi- 
tion that he fhould be furmfhed with a 
fhip to convey them to France. The En- 
gl i(h Government confented that this fhip 
fhould perform her voyage without molef- 
tation. Meanwhile the EngliQi had taken 
pofleflion of the ifland of Trinidad, where 
H 3 this 



J 50 NATIONAL MUSEUM 

this extenfive and famous colle&ion had 
been left. When Captain Baudouin arrived 
at Trinidad, in order to bring away his col- 
lection, the Englifh would not give it up, 
on pretence that their Government had con- 
fented to the fafety of the expedition by fea, 
and not by land. However, this and the 
former expeditions were not altogether 
frjLiitlefs; for Baudouin has brought into the 
botanic garden about one thoufand differ- 
ent kinds of live plants, befides affortments 
of feeds, and a confiderable herbarium. 

The gallery for natural hiflory is a build- 
ing fituated on the right hand, as you enter 
the botanic garden from the ftreet. On the 
fecond floor of this building are four large 
apartments, where fifhes,birds,{hells,infe6ts, 
minerals, earths and ftones. are deposited on 
fh elves, fumiilied with gla-fs fronts. The 
inner apartment is allotted to vegetables, 
and contains fpecimens of trees, together 
with the herbarium of Tournefort. 

Vaillant preferred, to the Mufeum a part 



OF NATURAL HISTORY. 151 

©f his birds. Bat feverai perfons, who had 
certain knowledge of the fa6t, affured me, 
that Vaillant referved for hirnfelf the molt 
lingular and curious. 

The gallery is open to the public the 
firlt, fourth, and feventh days of every de- 
cade, when it is crowded by all forts of 
people, who come there not for inftrudHon, 
but merely to view the place., by way of 
amufement. A certain number of veterans 
and invalids are then ftationed in different 
places about the rooms, in order to fee that 
the drawers are not broke open, or the cu- 
riofities in any manner injured or dcitroyecL 
Before this regulation took place, a diamond 
ftolen from thence, in the time of the 
revolution. Every fecond, third, fifth, fixth, 
eighth and ninth days of the decade, this 
gallery is open for fuch only as are deiirous 
offludying natural hiftory. 

The excellent Lacepede, who is not lefs 
.kind and obliging than eminent for erudi- 
tion, gave me a letter to Lucas, keeper of 
the gallery, who, with great civility, (hewed 
H 4 me 



1 1 52 &Wtbd£i [ $&ikt 

I . , 

■me every thing that was curious and ite* 

nWkable in this mufeurn, and particularly 
■ the collection of quadrupeds,' which is ne- 
ver exhibited to the public. Here I had a 
lecond view of fome lingular objfeSs, which 
• £ had feen at the Hague one and twCtity 
.rs before, in : the StadtholderVcbllec- 
.-, fuch as the fea-horfe, zebra, elephant, 
outang, and a variety of monkeys. 
Th'ere are likewife to be feen in this rcru- 
feuiii, a lion, a tiger, a leopard, art'uncbtti- 
monly large dog from the Pyrenees, and 
a fine fkeleton of a camelopard, whofe 
height from his forefoot' to the top of his 
crown is fixteen feet. 

All thefe and many other quadrupeds, 
and fome large birds, are exhibited to view 
in an apartment on the third floor, or ira- 
ther on a part of the garret formed into 
an apartment. The remaining part of the 
floor has the appearance of a large hall ; 
above are fky-lights, and on each fide arc 
dens for wild beafts. 

The Directorial Palace, formerly Pahk 

de 



OF NATUKAL HISTORY. 1 53 

de Luxembourg^ is arranged with the utmofi 
conveniency and grandeur, and is now 
the reiidence of the Five Dire&ors. All 
the window glafs which the great manu- 
factory at Paris had made for fome time, 
was ordered for that building. But the 
Directory had fo much refpeit for fciencc, 
as to part with whatever glafs was wanted 
for the cafes of the gallery for natural hif- 
tory ; fo that this large hall was foon fitted 
up with all the ftate and magnificence in 
which it now appears. In the building 
where Cuvier now refides, is a choice col- 
lection of Ikeletons of men, quadrupeds, and 

birds. 

It mud be obfervecl, that as natural his- 
tory and botany are almoft unlimited, the 
defcriptions which I give of the natural 
treafures of the garden, green houfe, and 
gallery, cannot but be fuperficial. 

Two very promifing fiudents of natural 
hiftory now refide in Paris ; M. Neils Hoff- 
man Bang, and M.Wilken Horneman, who 
has publifiied, and received a premium for, 
his defcriptions of Danifh plants. Both 
H 5 the 



1 54 NATIONAL MUSEUM 

the gentlemen attend the mufeum and gar- 
den, and are intimately acquainted with the 
French naturalifts, Juffieu, Lacepede, La- 
mark, Cuvier, Brogniart, Thouin, and 
others ; and they certainly intend to pub- 
lish their obfervations on the mufeum and 
the botanic garden. 

The library, which is on the fecond floor, 
by the tide of the gallery, contains from 
nine to ten thoufand volumes, relating to 
botany and feveral other branches of natu- 
ral hiftory. On the walls are hung feveral 
very mafterly paintings of plants and ani- 
mals, executed by the ftudents at the mu- 
feum. All remarkable plants and animals 
are drawn on vellum paper, and laid up in 
common bindings: the number of parcels 
of this kind is very confiderable. This li- 
brary was formed in the time of Lewis the 
Fifteenth, and has been continual 1)' increaf- 
ing. It is open every day, excepting decade 
days, from eleven till two o'clock. 

The menagerie feems to be feparated 
into two parts, the one for mild animals, 

and 



OF NATURAL HISTORY, 155 

and the other for the wild and ferocious. 
Between two of the long alleys, on the 
right hand, as one enters from the city, and 
about the middle of the garden, are inclo- 
fures of very fine railing, within which arc 
the mild animals, fuch as camels, dromeda- 
ries, African oxen, Eaft Indian deer, feveral 
kinds of ilieep, Angora goats, &c. &a 
fome of which have even propagated their 
fpecies in this garden. The other part of 
the menagerie is for ferocious animals, which 
are kept on the left hand fide, in a low 
building with different apartments. Here 
are a lion, four llonefles, a white bear, and 
feveral Alpine bears (which formerly had 
free poffeffion of the ft ate den of Berne, 
but now inhabit that of Paris,) a wolf, an 
African porcupine, fea bears, &c. It is re- 
markable that there is a dog here which 
continually lives in company with a young 
lionefs. 

In a large cage are contained different 

birds of prey : fuch as eagles, griffins, 

hawks, ftorks, &c. On the left hand, on 

H 6 entering 



J 5t> NATIONAL MUSE-UM- 

entering the garden,- and .behind thegreea 
boufe, are feveral buildings. In one of 
them are two grey elephants from Holland ; 
and in another, two oftriches, a caflbwary, 
and fome antelopes. In other parts of the 
garden . ; are inelofures for land and fea 
fowls, and three ponds of fpring water for 
fifties.- 

The amphitheatre is a remarkable build- 
ing, whieh faces the garden on the left fide. 
This lecture room indeed is an amphithea- 
tre in its true acceptation, that is, the forms 
are all confh*u(5ted in femicircles, and rife 
regularly one above another. At the centre 
below ftands the lecturer. I attended a 
ledlnre on chemiftry, delivered in this am- 
phitheatre, by Brogniart. It was difficult to 
hear and underfiancl him.; but I cannot 
fay with certainty, whether the caufe was 
to be looked for in the voice of the fpeaker, 
or in the conftru&ion of the building. I 
was, however, rather inclined to afcribe 
it to the latter, as the voice muft necef- 
farily be confufed by reverberation. In 

the 



OF NATURAL HISTORY. 157 

the fame building there is a chemical labo- 
ratory. 

The fuperintendants of this mufeum are 
Juitteu, who is principal diredlor and pro- 
feffor of rural botany, and the following 
managers, viz. Daubenton, profeflbr of mi- 
neralogy ; Fourcroy, of general chemiftry ; 
Brogniart, of technical chemiftry ; Des- 
fontaines, of botany ; Geoffroy, of the zoo- 
logy of quadrupeds and birds ; Lacepede^ 
of the zoology of reptiles and fifties ; La- 
mark, of the zoology of infefts, worms, 
and teftaceous animals ; Portal, of human 
anatomy ; Mertrud, of the anatomy of ani- 
mals : Thouin, of gardening ; Faujas, of 
geology; Vanfpaendonck, of ichnography, 
and who alfo teaches the ftudents to take 
iketches of animal and vegetable objects, 
&c. Cuvier is adjunct in the anatomy of 
animals. All thefe profeflbrs deliver their 
public lectures in rotation, and in the fum- 
rner months only. The other officers con- 
lift of a principal and tub librarians, two 
keepers of the gallery for natural hiftory, a 

gardener 



158 NATIONAL MUSEUM 

gardener and a fecretary. The affiftant 
profeflbrs are, one In mineralogy, two in 
zoology, and one in botany. Two Cap- 
tains conftantly keep guard with their vete- 
rans at the mufeurn. "Molt of the profeflbrs 
and officers have a free refidence in. build- 
ings belonging to this mufeum. 

There formerly flood in the library of the 
mufeum a fiatue of the celebrated Bufrbn, 
of Parian marble^ and as large as life. Dur- 
ing the jacobin government, it was taken 
down, but preferved from damage. It is 
faid that it will be reftored to the former 
honourable fituation, defervedly due to the 
inanimate reprefentative of Buffbn, whom 
the French have generally named the fc- 
cond Plin} 7 . 

Juft below the entrance from the city 
into the botanical garden, and on the left 
hand, there is to be feen a plantation of 
trees and ftirabs, which rife up to a consi- 
derable height, and have a beautiful ap- 
pearance. In this fine grove formerly flood, 
under a noble cedar of Libanon, a marble 

buft 



OP NATURAL HISTORY. 15$ 

buft of Linnaeus, the Swedifli natural iff, 
and the inventor and founder of the modern 
fjftem of natural hi (lory. This buft was 
deftroyed, at the time when the peuple fou- 
verain amufed therafelves with fpi;eading 
ruin and devaluation. The cedar of Li- 
banon, either by a cannon ball or fome 
other violence, then loft its majeftic top. 
Thofe Vandals deftroyed every memorial 
and monument, without any difcrimination 
whatever. They even demolished the tombs, 
and dug up the bodies, of the moft merito- 
rious of their countrymen ; not exempting 
that of the great Turenne himfelf, who had 
been, more than once, the deliverer of 
France. His facred remains, in which was 
ftill vtfible the wound of the cannon ball by 
which he fell, in the fervice of his country, 
were treated by thofe barbarians in the mod 
inhuman and contemptible manner. The 
mortal part of that great General lay in the 
mufeum,fhamefully expofed among thefke- 
letons of quadrupeds and birds ; till it was 
removed by the orders of Francis de Neuf- 

chateau, 



160 MUSEUMS AT 

chateau, and placed in an apartment of the 
amphitheatre, where it is fet upright in a 
glafs cafe. 

Before I take my leave of the Mufeum 
for Natural Hiftory, I mud obferve, that it 
contains a great number of chefts ftill un- 
packed, which are full of curious objects 
brought hither from conquered countries. 
I have been told by men, who had every 
opportunity of being well informed, that 
thofe chefts inclofe a collection as interefU 
ing and extenfive as that already depofited 
in the mufeum, in which there is no room 
for more objedts without additional build- 
ings. 



LETTER 



f ABIS AND VERSAILLES. l6i 



LETTER IX, 

THE CENTRAL MUSEUM FOR ARTS AT PA- 
RIS, AND THE MUSEUM FOR THE FRENCH 
SCHOOL AT VERSAILLES. 

The Central Mufe-um, a general Collection of 
Statues, Paintings, &c — Entrance — Gal- 
lery of Apollo — Pifture Gallery five hun- 
dred feet long — Pictures and Statues from 
Italy, greatly injured on the Journey — Ca- 

. talogues of Paintings brought from Italy, 
&c. which greatly exceeded the Author s 
Expectations — Saloon of La coon 4o be pre- 
pared — Exhibition of the Works of French 
Painters, Statuaries, Dr aught f men, and 
Engravers now living — General Mufeum 
for French Paintings. 

1VTEAR the Louvre, or National Palace 
•*" for Arts and Sciences, is a building ap- 
propriated to collections in the fine arts of 

drawing, 



1 62 MUSEUMS AT 

drawing, painting, and fculpture, under the 
name of the Central Mitfeum of Arts. All 
the foreign pieces of art formerly feen in 
France, together with the paintings and 
ftatues which have been fince acquired 
from Belgium, Lombardy, Venice! Rome., 
and other States, either by the force of con- 
queft, or by exprefs conditions in treaties 
of alliance and neutrality, are now formed 
into one general collection. The large 
and (Irong fqur-wheeled carriages which 
brought thofe fubjc&s of art from Italy, are 
now ftanding in the garden of the Louvre. 
The entrance to the Mufeum of Arts is 
from a large fquare in front cf the Lo\ivre, 
and clofe by a corner formed by this fquare 
and that palace. All- the way in entering, 
ftatues of bronze, and bulls of marble, are 
prefented to view in porticoes. In the 
frQut room, among other pieces of fculp- 
ture, are four beautiful eoloffal fluves, which 
once flood by the pedeftal o\ the flattie of 
Louis XV. in the Place des ■:;. Be- 

low 



FAKIS AND VERSAILLES. l()3 

low the entrance into the ftair-cafe are fe- 
verai ftatutes, which have been brought 
from Italy, and on the different landing 
places of thefe noble ftairs, are various fine 
models of Gibs. On entering the fecond 
floor there is a large front room, or fa- 
loon, with fky-lights at top* On the left 
hand is the gallery of Apollo, containing 
only (ketches and fome crayon paintings, 
moft of which were brought from Holland, 
Belgium, and Italy. On the right hand, is 
an excellent and Angularly extenfive pic- 
ture gallery. It is a room of no lefs than 
five hundred feet in length, and was for- 
merly filled with paintings, fmall ftatues, 
bufts, idols, vafes, mechanical contrivances, 
mathematical and philosophical inftruments, 
models of buildings; and, in fhort, it was 
that kind of diibrderly jumble which fome 
virtuofos are fond of amaliing, in what they 
call a cabinet of curiofities. This great gal- 
lery is at prefent undergoing an alteration 
and new arrangement,. on which account it 
has been fhut up for the whole fummer. • 

The 



l64 MUSEUMS AT 

The managers of this mufeum announced) 
on the 18th Brumaire, in the feventh year, 
66 that they had made confiderable progrefs 
H in arranging and putting into proper* 
" points of view, the paintings produced by 
" the Flemifh and French Schools, in a 
" part of the great Galiery, which they 
" intend opening as foon as poffible ; that 
iC they will then publifh a new catalogue or 
" explanation of the paintings in the gal - 
<Hery of Apollo, and will work with all 
" poflible difpatch, in preparing the place 
?*■ where the Italian fiatues are to be ex- 
" hibited to public view." 

The Italian paintings have been publicly 
explained in two catalogues. The firft of 
which extended from the 18th of Pluviofe 
to the 30th of Prairial, fixth year, (from the 
6th of February to the 18th June, 1798,) 
and included the pieces brought from Lom- 
bardy, that is, from Parma, Piacenza, Mi- 
lan, Cremona, Modena, Cento, . and Bo- 
logna. To this catalogue have fince been 
added, fome Italian pieces from Verfaillea, 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 1<55 

in order to colle6t the whole Italian fchool 
into one point of view. 

The managers have had the candor to 
acknowledge, that fome of thofe mafter- 
piecesof art are in fuch bad condition that 
they cannot be exhibited. This feems tan- 
tamount to a confeffion, that they have been 
much injured on the journey, if not totally 
abraded and deftroyed. In particular, it is 
known, that an excellent portrait of Ra- 
phael, by Foligno ; the Holy Virgin and 
fome Saints, by Bellini ; the repaft at the 
hottfe of Levi, by Paul Veronefe ; the 
Marriage of Cana, by the fame matter ; 
St. Peter, the martyr, by Titian ; and fe- 
veral of the ftatues brought from Italy, have 
fuffered greatly from the length of the 
journey. 

J (hall fubjoin the titles of the pieces 
mentioned in the firft catalogue, or expla- 
nation, together with the names of the 
artifts, and the places from whence they 
were brought. 



1 6(7 MUSEUMS AT 

ByAlbani (Francljco) who died in \Q6o : 

1. The Birth of Mary, from Bologna. 

2. Diana and A6leon, from Verfailles. 

3. Apollo with Admetus, do. 

4. Cybele's Triumph, do. 

5. The Holy Family, do. 

6. Refting on the Journey to Egypt, do. 

7. The Annunciation of Mary, do. 

8. The fame on a fmaller fcale, do. 

p. Chrift,as feen by Mary Magdalen, do. 

By Bellini (Giovanni) who died in 15 12: 

10. His own portrait, his brother Gentil 
Bellini being included in the^ame piece, 
from Verfailles. 

By Carr actio (Hannibal) who died 1 60Q : 

1 1. Chrift in Mary's arms, from the Ca- 
puchin at Parma. 

12. St. Luke and Mary, from Modena, 

13. The Refurre&ion of Chrift, from 
Bologna. 

. 14. Do. on a fmaller fcale, from Ver- 
failles. 

)5. Chrift afleep, do. 

16. The 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. l6? 

\6. The Birth of Chrift, do. 
17. Chrift laid in the Tomb, do. 
18* Abraham's Offering, do. 

19. John preaching in the Wildernefs, 
do. 

20. A Concert, by Water, do. 

21. The Stoning of St Stephen, do. 

22. The fame defigned and executed in 
a different ftyle, do. 

By Carraccio (Augufun) executed in l602. 

23. St. Ceciiia and St. Magdalena, from 
Parma. 

24. Mary's Afcenfion, from Bologna. 

25. St, Jerome's Converfion, a mafter- 
piece of Caraccio, taken from Bologna. 

By Carraccio (Ludovico) who died in 1 6 1 Q : 

26. Mary, Jofeph, and St. Francis, from 
Cento. 

27. Mary, as feen of St. Hyacinth, from 
Bologna. 

28. The calling of Matthew-, from Bo- 
logna, 

29. The 



l6S MUSEUMS AT 

29. The Interment of Mary, from Pia~ 
cenza. 

30. The Apoftles at Mary's Grave, do. 

31. The Annunciation of Mary, from 
Verfailles. 

32. Mary and the Child Jefus, do. 

33. St. Bernhard delivering the city of 
Carpis, from Modena. 

The Four Elements, painted by the 
three brothers Carraccio's. 

By Car r accio (Lurfarg). 

34. The Earth, reprefented by Flora. 

35. Water, by a Nymph fitting in a 
large mufcle-fhell, drawn by Dolphins. 

By Carraccio (Augujiin). 

36. Fire reprefented by Pluto, and Hell. 

By Carraccio ( Hannibal)* 

37. The Air, reprefented by Venus fit- 
ting on a cloud. — The laft four paintings 
were brought from Modena. 

By Cavedom (Giacome) 9 --who died in 1660. 

38. St. Petronius and St. Eloi, from Bo- 

iocnia. 

By 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. $0£) 

33y Correggjo (Antonio Allegri) who died in 
1534. 

3q, Mary, with the Child Jefus, St. Je- 
rome, and Magdalen. This is the greateft 
mafter-piece of the art of painting. The 
King of Portugal, in the year 1749, bid for 
it 40,000 zechinas, or 18,0001. fterling : it 
was taken from Parma. 

40. The Holy Family, refting on their 
journey to Egypt. — The King of Poland, in 
.the year 1750, offered for this piece 20,000 
zechinas, or g,000l. fterling, from Parma. 

•4 3 . The taking down from theCrofs, 

42. The Execution and Martyrdom df 
St. Placide and St. Flavia.— Both thefe 
pieces (41 and 42) are very excellent, and 
were brought from Parma. 

By Zampieri (Dominico) who died in 1641. 

43. Mary with a Bunch of Rofes, from 
Bologna. 

44. St. Agnes's Martyrdom, do* 

45. David playing on the Harp, from 
Verfailles. 

46. St. Cecilia, do. 

I 47. The 



170 



MUSEUMS AT 



47. The curling of Adam and Eve. 

48. St. Paul raifed in a Trance to the 
Third Heaven, do. 

49. The triumph of Love, do. 

50. Mary and St. Antonius of Padua, do. 

51. Mary drawing water with a -mufcle- 
fhell, do. 

By DoJJi,who died in 1500. 

52. The Circumcifion of Chrift, from 
Verfailles. 

53. Chrift proclaimed to the Shepherds, 
from Modena. 

54. Mary with the Child Jefus, from 
Verfailles. 

By Herrari (Gaudenzio) painted about 
3 540. 

55. The Apoftle Paul, from Milan. 

56. The Birth ot Chrift, from Verfailles. 
By Feti ( Domini co) who died in \6l4. 

57. Melancholy, under the emblem of a 
pale young lady, from Ecouen. 

By Titio Girofalo (Benvenuto) who died in 
1559. 
58 His own Portrait, drawn by himfelf^ 
from Verfailles. 

59. Mary, 



PARIS ATCD VERSAILLES, 171 

59. Mary, St. Luke, and John the Bap- 
tift, do. 

60. The Holy Family, from Bologna, 

61. Another Holy Family, from Ver- 
sailles. 

By Genhari (C<efar) who died in 1648. 

62. Magdalen in the Wildernefs, fron* 
Cento. 

63. Mary's Marriage with Jofeph, from 
Modena, 

64. Mary with the Child Jefus, from 
Cento, 

By Bonzi (Peter Paul). 

65. Latona's Vengeance, from Verfailles* 
By Bar her i (Francifcus Guerchin) who died 

in 1666. 

66. The Blifs of Paradife, from Cento. 

67. Mary, Jofeph, and feveral other 
Saints 3 do. 

68. Chrift giving the Keys of the Church 
to St. Peter, do. 

69. Wilhelm, Duke of Aquitain, takes 
the cowl, from Bologna. 

, 1 2 ; 70. St. 



172 MUSEUMS AT 

70. St. Francis and St. Benedict, from 
Cento. 

71. St. Peter fattened to the Crofs, from 
Modena. 

72. Chrift is feen by his Mother, from 
Cento. 

73. The Execution of St. John and St. 
Paul, from Modena. 

74. Mary's Vifit to Elizabeth, do. 

75. Mars, Venus, and Cupid, do. 

76. The Circumcifion of Chrift, from 
Bologna. 

77- Mary is feen by St. Bruno, do. 

78. Trinity in Unity, or St. Gcminius, 
St. Francis, and St. Sebaftian, from Mo- 
dena. 

79. The Marriage of St. Catherine, do. 

80. Salome with the head of John the 
Baptift, do. 

81. Mary is feen by St. Jerome, from 
Cento. 

82. The Virgin Mary with a Child, from 
Modena. 

83. St. 



PARIS AN© VERSAILLES. 173 

83. St. Francis obtains an Impreffion of 
the Wound of Chrift, do. 

84. Mary. St. Germinius, John the Bap- 
tift, St. George, and St. Peter the Martyr, 
do. 

85. St. Bernard receives from Mary the 
rules of his order, from Bofco. 

By Guido (Rent) who died in 1 642. 

86. The companionate Condudt of the 
Saints, who are the prote6lors of Bologna. 
—This is held to be one of the beft pieces 
of Guido Reni, taken from Bologna. 

87. St. Rceh in Prifon, from Modena. 

88. The {laughter of the Innocents. — 
This piece was drawn, to (hew thofe whp 
envied him, that he could paint not only 
fentimental, but alfo hiitorical pieces, from 
Bologna. 

89. Job reftored to his former prospe- 
rity, do. 

90. The Purification of Mary, from 
Modena. 

91. Mary with the Child Jefus, from 
Verfaiilcs. 

I 3 92. Unifoa 



174 MUSEUMS AT 

92. Unifcn of the Arts of Defign and 
Painting, do. 

93. The Child Jefus afleep, from Mo- 
dena. 

94. Chrift on the Crofs, do. 

By Julius Pip Romano. 

95. His Portrait^ painted by himfel^ 
from Verfailles. 

96. The Shepherds worfhip the Child 
Jefus, do. 

97. Venus and Vulcan, do. 

98. The triumph of Titus Vefpaftan, da. 
By Lana (Ludovico) who died in 1 6>l6. 
90. Death of Clarinda, from Modena. 

By Lanfranchl (Giovanni). 

100. St. Peter and St. Paul taking leave 
of one another, from Verfailles. 

By Lelio Orji, of Nov ellar a, who died in 
1587. 

101. Virgin Mary, St. Jofeph, and St, 
Michael, from Parma. 

By Leonardo da Vinci, who died in 1 5 1 9. 

102. Virgin Mary and St. Anne, from 
Verfailles. 

103. Por- 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 175 

103. Portrait of Jocund, do. 

104. Portrait of a Woman, do. 

105. Salome, with John's Head, do. 

By Licinio (Bernardino). 

106. A Holy Family, from Milan. 

107. John the Baptift, when a Child, do. 
By Mazzola (Girohmo) who fioarijhed ah oat 

1550. 

10S. The three Kings worfhipping the 

Child Jefus, from Parma. 

By Mola (Pietro Francifco) who died hi 
1066/ 

10Q, John preaching in the Wildernefs, 

from Verfailles. 

By More (Francefco Torbidojwho flour Ifhed 

about 1500. 

110. Charles the Fifth in a pigmy form, 
from Verfailles. 

By Pahna (Giacomo) who died in 1596. 

111. A Holy Family, from Verfailles. 
By Mazzuoli (Francefco Parmefano) whe 

died in 1 5 SO. 

112. The Virgin Mary and Holy Mar- 
,garetta, from Verfailles. 

I 4 113. Mary 



176 MUSEUMS AT 

113. Mary with ■ Jcfus and John the 
Baptift, when a Child, from Verfailles. 

1 14. The Holy Family, do. 

My Per In del Vaga> called Buonacorji^ wh$ 
died in 1547- 

115. The Mufes and Pierides challeng- 
ing one another, from Versailles. 

By Pietro Perufino V antic ci y who died in 
1524. 

116. Virgin Mary, St. Jerome, and St. 
Auguftine,.from Verfailles. 

(By Pietro Berettini d<i Cor tone, who died in 
1669. 

117. Mary's Nativity, from Verfailles. 
By Giacome Pantorme Caruccio^ who died in. 

1556. 

118. An engraved Portrait, from Ver- 
failles. . 

By Pror.accbu Camilh y who died in 1626. 

1 1 9. Mary, St. George, and ether Saints, 
from Modena*- 

By Jidius Cafar Trocacemi, who died in 
1621. 

120. St. Sebaflian, from Milan. 



PATtTS AND VERSAILLES. 177 

By Raphael Sanzio, who died in 1521? 
aged 37. 

121. St. Cecilia — a moft excellent piece, 
from Bologna. 

122. Chrift in celeftial Blifs, with St. 
Paul and St. Catherine, from Parma. 

123. Child Jefus, lying with the Child 
John, from Verfailles. 

124. Plenty, under the emblem of a 
Woman, do. 

By Salvator Rofa, who died in 16/ 3. 

125. Purgatory, from Milan. ; ■'*- 

126. Saul, the Witch, and the Shade of 
Samuel, from Verfailles. 

By Bartolemeo (Schedoni) who died in 

10 ID. 

127. Chrift in the Tomb, from Parma. 

By Andrea Solar io. . 

128. Mary giving Jefus the Breaft, frbnl 
Verfailles. 

By Leonello Spada^who died in 1621. 

129. St. Francis offering a Flower to 
Chrift, from Modena. 

I 5 130. The 



178 MUSEUMS AT 

130- The Execution of St. Ghriitopher, 
do* 

131. Jofeph's Charity, do. 

132. The Return of the Prodigal Son, 
do. 

By Tiarino (Alexander) who died in 1668. 

133. Jofeph repents of his fufpicions of 
■Mary, from Bologna. 

134. The Marriage of St. Catherine, 
from Modena. 

By Tint or et (Giucomo Robujli) who died in 
1594. 

135. Whole Length Portrait of a Man, 
from Ver failles. 

By Tiziano Pecelli, who died in 1576. 

136. Chrift bearing the Crown of Thorns, 
a mafter-piece, from Milan. 

By Breughel (Jean) who died in 1 642. 

THE POUR ELEMENTS, VIZ. 

137. The Air, reprefented by Urania. 

138. The Earth, reprefented by Para- 
dife. 

13Q. Water, 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 1?() 

13Q. Water, reprefented by Naiades, 
and the Sea by Fifhes and Water-fowls. 

140. Fire, reprefented by Forges and 
Cannon-founderies. — Thefe four pieces 
were taken from Milan. The execution is 
excellent, and 150,000 livres, or £6,250 
were once offered for them. 

141. Daniel in the Lion's Den, from 
Milan. 

Out of thefe one hundred and forty-one 
paintings, which have been exhibited from 
the ] 8th of Pluviofe to the 30th of Prairial, 
there were thirty-fix formerly in France : 
this reduces the number brought hither 
from Italy to ]05. They will all be hung 
up in the Great Gallery, as foon as it is 
ready for their reception. 

The other catalogue or explanation con- 
fifts of pieces brought from Venice, Verona, 
Mantua, Pcfaro, Fano, Loretto, and Rome. 
It begins with the 18th Bra maire, 7th year, 
or 8th of November, 17 98, and contains 
the following paintings : 

16 ^ By 



180 



MUSEUMS AT 



By Alfani (Dominico di Fans) who died in 
1553. 

1. Mary, St. Francifcus, and Antonius 
of Padua, from Perufa. 

By Baroccio (Frederigo) who died in 1622. 

2. Jefus taken down from the Crofs. — 
This is one of the beft pieces of this artift^ 
and was taken from Perula. 

3. The calling of St, Peter and St. An- 
drew, from Pefaro. 

4. St. Micheline, from do. 

5. The Annunciation, from Loretto. 

6. The Circumcifion of Chrift, from Pe- 
faro. 

7. Mary, St. Antoinius, and St. Lucy, 

8. The Refurre#ion of Lazarus, from 
Venice. 

By BaJJano (Leandro da Ponle) zvho died in 

1623. 

By Bellini (Giovanni J who died in 151& 

9. Chriil in the Tomb. — This piece has 
been greatly injured, and is in a bad con- 
dition, from Venice. 

By 



PARIS 1 AND VERSAILLES. 181 

By Caravaggio (Michael Angela Amerigi). 

10. Chrift carried to the Sepulchre.— 
This is looked upon as the beft piece of 
this mafter, and was taken from Rome. 

By Curacao (Hannibal) who died in 
1609. 

11. Birth of the Virgin Mary, from La- 
ret to. 

12. Chrift lying on Mary's Bofom, from 
Rome. 

By Caraccio (Augujlin) who died in 
1602. 

13. St. Jerome's Change in hislaft Mo- 
ments. — This is the mafter-piece of Car- 
raccio, and was taken from the Carthufian 
Church of Bologna. 

By Giovanni Coniarino, who died in 
1615. 

14. Mary, St. Sebaftian, and feveraF 
Saints, from the Doge's Palace at Venice. 

By Dominico Zampieri, who died in 
1641. 

15. St. Jerome's Converfion. — This is 

Dominico's 



183 



MUSEUMS AT 



Dominico's beft piece, and was taken from 
Rome. 

By Benvenufo Tizio Girofalo, who died in 
1559. 

16. The Holy Virgin and St. Catherine, 
from a gallery at the Capitol of Rome. 

By Barbieri (Giov. Francifco), called Guer- 
cini^who died in 3 666. 

17. St. Fetronille — the bell piece of 
this artift, taken from Rome. 

18. St. Thomas's Unbelief, from the 
Vatican at Rome. 

By Guido Rent 9 who die a I in 1642. 
39. The Crucifixion of St. Peter. — This 
is efteemed one of the beft works of 
Guido, and was taken from the Vatican. 

20. Chrift giving the Keys of the Church 
to St. Peter, from an altar-piece at Fano. 

21. Mary, St. Jerome and St. Thomas. 
This too isoneofGuido's beft pieces, in ano- 
ther ftyle. It was taken from the cathedral 
church of Pefaro, 

22. For- 



PARIS AXD VERSAILLES. ] 8& 

22. Foftune. This painting is of great 
celebrity, and was taken from the Capitol 
of Rome. 

By Fermo Gmfon\ Wlfo ' flour ijked about 

■ 

23. Ti ' -P.terand St. An- 
drew, frd ,c r*s church at Mantua* 

jBy Manhgmt (itndittfs) ivho died in 
15 17. 

24 The Holy Virgin Triumphant. This 
was taken from the altar piece of the Phi- 
lippine church of Mantua* which was built 
on account of a vidlory gained by F. F. Go- 
zangue* Duke of Mantua* in the year 
14Q6. 

25* 26, 27, are three feparate paintings* 
joined together in one frame. 25 is the mid- 
dle piece, and is the Holy Virgin. 26 is on 
the right fide, and contains John the Bap- 
tift, St. Lawrence, and St. Benedict* and a 
Bifhop. 27, on the left fide, exhibits St. Pe- 
ter, St. Paul, John the Evangelift, and St. 
Zeno. This groupe is in an ornamented 

frame* 



184 MUSEUMS AT 

frame, with imitations of feftoor* and Bas- 
reliefs in the antique manner. 

28. Chrift praying in the Garden. 

29. Chrift on .the Crofs between the 
Thieves. 

30. Tl^e Circumcifion of Chrift. 
Thefe fix pieces, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 

30, were taken from the great altar of St. 
Zeno's church at Verona. 
By Paolo Cagliari Veronefe> who died in 
1588. 

31. The Report at the houfe of Simon; 
This is one of the firft pieces of P. Vero- 
nefe, and was taken from St. Sebaftian's 
cloifter at Venice. 

32. The Virgin, St. Jerome, and many 
Saints, from the Saerifty of St. Zechariah's 
nunnery at Venice. 

33. The Marty rdom>of St. George. This 
piece has always been efteemfid one of. the 
beft of P. Veronefe, and was taken from the 
high altar of St. George's church of Ve- 
rona. 

34. St- 



I ARIS AND VERSAILLES. 185 

34. St. Barnabas recovered from his Sick- 

_ 

nefs, do. 

35. The Rape of Europa, from the 
Doge's palace at Venice. 

36. Jupiter punifhes Calumniators with 
his Thunder, do. 

37. Juno pours out Riches over Ve- 
nice, do. 

38. St. Mark crowns the Virtues, do. 

39. St. Antonius's Temptation by De- 
vils, from the cathedral church of Mantua. 

40. A Holy Family, from a private col- 
lection in the Bevilacqua palace of Verana, 

41. Chrift lying in the Tomb, do. 

42. Portrait of a Lady, do. 

By Pietro Vannucci, called Perrugin, wht> 
died in 1.024. 

43. Afcenfion of Chrift ; held to be one 
of the beft productions of this artift. 

44. The Three Kings worfhipping the 
Child Jefus. 

45 The Baptifm of Chrift. 
46. The Circumciiion of Chriflt 

The 



186 MUSEUMS AT 

The four laft pieces were taken from the 
Benedictine church of Perufa. 

47. The Family of the Holy Virgin, ta- 
ken from the hofpual church of Verona, 
and efteemed the very teft piece of this maf- 
ter. 

48. ' Mary and fome Saints, who are pro- 
te&ors of the town of Perufa, from a chapel 
at Perufa. 

49. Mary, St. Auguftine, and St. Je- 
rome, from an Auguftine Sacrijfty at Pe- 
rufa. 

50. The Marriage of the Virgin Mary r 
from the cathedral church of Perufa. 

51. The Eternal Father, from a Bene- 
didline church at Perufa. 

52. St. Sebaftian and St. Agatha. 

53. John the Evangelift. 

54. The Apoftle St. James and a Bifhop. 
Thefe three paintings are from an Au- 
guftine Sacrifty of Perufa. 

55. Michael, the Archangel. 

56- St. Bartholomew, the Apoftle. 

57. St. 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 18r 

57. St. Apollius praying. 

Thefe three were alfo taken from the Au- 
guftine Sacrifty. 

58. The Prophet Jeremiah. 

59. The Prophet liaiah. 

The above two from the Benedidtine 
church of Perufa. 

By Llcinis da Perdon (Giov. Antonio) wh$ 
died in 1540. 

60. St. Lawrence, Juftinran, and other 
Saints, from the church of Madonna del 
Orto at Venice : is held to be a mafter 
piece. 

By PouJJIn (Nicolai) who died in 1 66 5. 

61. Martyrdom of St. Rafmus, from the^ 
Vatican. 

By Raphael Fanzio, who died in 1520, 

62. Mary taken up to Heaven. 

63. The Annunciation. 

04. The Three Kings worfhipping thc^ 
Child Jefus. 

65. The Three Kings prefented in the 
Temple. 

Thefe four paintings were taken from the 

Sacrift^ 



183 MUSEUMS AT 

Sacrifty of St. Francis's church of Peru- 
fa. They sire Raphael's juvenile produc- 
tions, having been painted when he was but 
feventeen years of age. Loud Briftol bid 
for them 80,000 francs, or about 3,340L 
ilerling. 

i 66. St. Benedi&, St. Placide, and St. 
Cecilia, from the.Benedidline" church of 
Perufa. < 

67. The Chriftian Virtues, Faith, Hope,, 
and Charity, do. 

68. Mary crowned in Heaven, after her 
Afcenfion ; from the Nunnery of Monte- 
luce, near Perufa. 

69. The Athenian School is drawn on 
grey paper, with white chalk, and ihaded 
with black. It was taken from the Am- 
brofian library at Milan, and was the firft 
iketch of the alFrefco painting at the Vati- 
can. This is without doubt the fined 
compofition of the greateft painter who 
ever appeared. 

70 The Transfiguration of Chrift on 
Mount Tabor, taken from the high altar of 

St. 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 18$ 

St. Peter's church at Rome. This mafter- 
piece isthelaft and moft perfect: produ&ion 
of the extenfive and prolific talents of the 
great Raphad. The painter died foon after 
his entHng on the thirty-feventh year of 
his age. He executed this piece on the 
requeft of Julius de Mcdieis, then Cardinal 
and Vice Chancellor, and afterwards Pope 
Clement the Seventh. Raphael received 
for his labour 655 ducats. 

By Sacchi (Andrea) who died in l66l. 

71. St. Remuald, taken from fhe high 
altar of the church of St. Remuald, was 
always efteemed one of the beft pieces in 
Rome. 

72. St. Gregory's Miracle,, frbm the 
Vatican. 

Tintoret (Giacome Rohifti) who died in 1540, 

73. St. Mark liberates a Slave. This is 
one of the artift's beft pieces ; and was ta- 
ken from the Fraternity of St. Marco at 
Venice, 

74. Celeftial Blifs. This is only a fketcb : 

it 



I go 



MUSEUMS AT 



it is a draught of the Urge one at the 
Doge's palace in Venice, and was taken 
^rom a collection of the Bevilacqua palace 
at Verona. w 

75. St. Agnes raifes up the Ruler's Son, 
from the church of Madonna del Orto in 
Venice. 

By Tiziano Vecetti, who died in 1576. 

76. Religion, from the Doge's palace at 
Venice. 

77. The Afcenfion of Mary, from the 
cathedral church of Verona. 

78. The Martyrdom of St. Laurence. 
This is one of the moii celebrated pieces of 
Tizian, and was taken from the Jefuit's 
church at Venice. 

By Mofes Valentin , who died in 1032. 

79. The Martyrdom of St, Martinian* 
from the Vatican. 

The following are by various artifts : 

80. The Three Prophets, by fome maf- 
ter of the Venetian fchool. It was pur- 
chafed at Aries. 

81. Chrift 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 1Q1 

81. Chrift laid in the Grave, painted by 
Tietro Vanmtcci Perrugino, and taken from 
the Auguftine church of Perufa. 

82. The Eternal Father, painted by Gui- 
do Reni, and taken from the cathedral 
church of Pefaro. 

Eight bas-reliefs in bronze, reprefenting 
hiftorical circumftances refpe6iing Maufo- 
lus, King of Caria. 

83. Maufolus feized with a dangerous 
Difeafe, in the midft of his Triumph. 

84. His Queen, Artemifia, offers a Sacri- 
fice to the Gods, and fupplicates them for 
the Recovery of her Hufband. 

85. Maufolus dies in the midfl of his 
difcorrfolate Family and People. 

86. Artemifia gives him a fumptuous Fu- 
neral, and creels to his Memory a magni- 
ficent Monument. 

87. Charon carries in his Boat the Shade 
of Maufolus to the Regions of the Dead. 

88. Artemifia celebrates his Memory by 
Poems and Orations. 

89. Artemifia reunited with Maufolus. 

90. Fame 



I 92 MUSEUMS AT 

90. Fame publifties their connubial Afc 
fe&ion and mutual Attachment. 

Thefe eight beautiful bas-reliefs, of fome* 
thing more than a foot in length, and ra- 
ttier lefs than a foot in height, were taken 
from the church of St. Ferrno Maggiore at 
Verona. They were applied to the maufo- 
leum belonging to the family of delta 
Torre. 

It is to be obferved, that they were exe- 
cuted by Guillo della Torre, whofe various 
medals and other productions in bronze are 
flow known, 

BUSTS. 

g\. Raphael's Bull, in marble. 
Q2. Hannibal Carraccio's Buit, in mar- 
ble. 

93. Andrea Sacchi's Bufl, in burnt clay. 

94. Andrea Mantegna's Bull, in bronze. 
This fecond collection I have vifited 

more than once. I went there the firft 
time poflefTed with the idea of feeing fome- 
thing great and beautiful in the enchant- 
ing art of painting ; but I muft fay that the 

works 



PARIS AS D VERSAILLES. 1 Q3 

works of Raphael, Guido Reni, Paul Ve- 
ronefe, Andreas Sacchi, and other great 
mafters, exceeded my moft ardent expecta- 
tion s. Yet I cannot forbear mention ing, 
that I alfo faw fome pieces which were not 
at all pleafing to me : but they all exhibit 
authentic traits of the times, and ought to 
be there, as they form a hiftory of the art, 
its progrefs and perfection in defign, colon n, 
light, fhade, &c. 

With reipec\ to the ftatues brought from 
Italy, a plan has been drawn of the order in 
which they are to be fct up, in a number of 
adjoining rooms, which arc to be prepared 
-and embellifhed. In the middle of each, is 
to be erected a large ftatue of fuperior beau- 
ty, fuch as Lacoon, the Farnefian Her- 
cules, the Apollo Bclvidere, Sec. the rooms 
to derive their names from thefe ftatues, and 
to be called the Saloon of Lacoon, the Sa- 
loon of Hercules, &c. &c. the ftatues of lets 
fize and beauty are to be fet up in thofe 
faloons. 

Jn the Great Saloon, or Gallery of the 
K Central 



1Q4 MUSEUMS AT 

Central Mufeum, where the Italian paint- 
ings juft noticed are hung up, are annually 
exhibited the performances of French ar- 
tifts now living, together with thofe of their 
pupils. Such a collection was exhibited in 
the fixth year, for four weeks, commencing 
on the l'ft of Thermidor, or the igth of 
July, 17Q8. It confiited of four hundred 
and forty-two pieces, fome drawn in oil co- 
lours, fome in water colours, and fome with 
Indian ink. A collection thus extenfive, 
and executed by fo many different young 
artifts, mud necefTarily poffels different de- 
grees of merit. General Angereau, on the 
Pont cTArcole, painted by Charles Theve- 
nin, is a large piece, wherein every thing is 
of its natural dimenfions, and feems to 
me to be very well done. Angereau, ob- 
ierving that the column which is to af- 
fault the bridge, does not proceed brifkly 
enough, mounts his horfe, and, with a 
ftandard in his hand, advances before the 
column, though oppofed by a hot fire from 
three Auftrian batteries. His flag and hat 

are 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES, 1Q5 

are (hot through ; an inferior officer is (hot, 
and ;dies by his fide ; and a lad, who is a 
drummer, pulls Angereau back, fignifying 
his dread of the danger to which the Gene- 
ral expofes himfelf: the entrance of the 
bridge is feen, and fome of the wooden 
rails (hot in pieces. 

jlpoilo and Urania, very well painted by 
Charles Meinier. 

The Death of General Ma rceau, painted 
by Lejeune, an officer of the engineers, is 
alfo a good piece. The General was or- 
dered to poft himfeif in a wood near Hocft- 
bach : while reconnoitring the wood, he 
was fhot by an Auflrian chafleur from be- 
hind a large tree. The place and country 
around it are drawn from nature, and the 
whole is well executed. 

Among the portraits done with oil co- 
lours, and as large as life, that of Profefibr 
Charles teemed to me to be very happily de- 
figned, and well painted. He is drawn in 
a kind of grey iilk morning gown, in 
which, I am told, he ufed to ledlure on 
K 2 ele&ricity. 



1q6 museums at 

ele&rity. In his hand is a folar microfcope, 
which is a very proper emblem, as he had a 
reinarkably fine apparatus for optical expe- 
riments, and his ledlures on that fcience, 
which he delivered in the fummer feafon, 
were particularly admired. 

The ftatuary performances confift of 
forty-nine pieces. Among them is a buft 
of the worthy Daubenton, at the age of 
eighty-three. There are eleven archi- 
tectural drawings, and twenty-fix copper- 
plate prints, among which is a fine por- 
trait of Gemrrti Mar ceau, engraved by his 
brother-in-law Serpent. This piece Is ex- 
tremely well coloured. 

I have to mention in this place/ that there 
is at this time prepared, at the uninhabited 
palace of Vcrfailles, €i A General Mufeum 
for the Paintings of the French School." 
This mufeum occupies eight large apart- 
ments, on the upper floor. The paintings 
have been all taken from cloifters, churches, 
and collections belonging to the emigrants, 
and to the former government. The whole 

is 



PARIS AND VERSAILLES. lQ7 

is well arranged, and has a very good ef« 
fe6t. Itcontainga number of excellent paint- 
ings ; but there are alfo fome which have 
but a moderate appearance, when examined 
after one has feen the great mafter-pieces of 
painting which have been brought thithe ' 
from Italy. 



K & LETTER 




1Q8 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 

LETTER X. 

OP THE NATIONAL OBSERVATORY AT 
PARIS. 

The Danes firjl erected an Obfervatory — The 

Parifian Obfervatory, as a Building — Was 

decaying before the Revolution — Injured 

during the Reign of Terrorifm — M. Jeau- 

rat y an old and able Aflronomer, now 

thrtift down into a Cellar ' y and ill provided 

for — The Obfervatory under Repair — Af- 

tronomical Inftruments, by Dollond, &?£.- — 

The French have but lately ufed tranft In- 

Jlruments — Large Telefcope, a mean In- 

Jtrument, and almqft ifelefs. — Teltfcope 

with Specula of Platina — An Achromatic \> 

by Rochette^far inferior to one of the fame 

Dimenfions, by Nairne and Blunt — - The Pa- 

' ris Obfervatory inferior to thofe of Green- 

: wich, Edinburgh, Copenhagen^ &c. 

YOU will readily believe that the Nati- 
onal Obfervatory appeared to me one of 
the mod interefting places that I had feen, 

It 



AT PARIS. 1Q9 

It is fituated near the farther end of Rue 
St. Jacques. The length of this ftreet, from 
Pant Notre Dame . to the Barrier e, is ] 275 
toifes. The obfervatory (lands loOtoifes 
from the Barrier, on an eminence, and, 
like the whole of Paris, on a chalky balls. 
This outlet of the city not being much 
built upon, there is much open fpace about 
the obfervatory. It is not incommoded by 
fmoke and damp, and poflefles a free air, 
and a fine profpedl. We Danes claim the 
honour of having been the firft nation in 
Europe who dedicated public temples to the. 
fervice of Urania, or, in other words, creeled 
folicl and durable obfervatories. Who has 
not heard of the immortal Tycho Brahe'i 
Uraniburg at Huen ? Who does not know 
that, after this great man's exile from Den- 
mark, Chriftian the Seventh, without do; 
lamenting this lofs to the fcienees. craned 
the round tower at Copenhagen to be 
built, and there fitted up an obfervatory for 
Chriftian Longomontanus, the molt famous 
K 4 difciple 



200 



NATIONAL OBSEHVATOAY 



difciple of Tycho ? The obfervatory at tfc 
penhagen was finished in 1&37 : and it was 
not till thirty yearsafter, that the obfervatories 
of Paris and Greenwich were built, almoft 
at the fame time. Theeftablifhmentof the 
Academy of Sciences, and of the obferva- 
tory at Paris, owe their origin to the anxiety 
which the great Colbert,* Minifter to Louis 
the Fourteenth, felt for the promotion of 
fciences. The obfervatory was erected by 
the celebrated French artiil Perrault, who 
has paid more attention to the beauty of the 
edifice, and to his own fancy as an architect, 
than to the accommodation of aftronomers. 
The building confifts of two very large and 
high ftories y all the floors are in good or- 
der, and on the roof is a platform or gallery. 
Under the building are caves of remarkable 
depth, and which I fhall hereafter particu- 



* Colbert was a cadet of the family of the Cuth- 
berts of Cattle Hill near Invernefs. See the Statiitical 
Account of Scotland, article /^w^r, 

larly 



, AT FABIS. 201- 

larly notice. The : fineft front is theleaft leery 
as it faces a garden belonging to one of the 
refiding afironomers, who at prefent is Me- 
chain ; fo that from the common entrance 
in Rue St. Jacques, the obfervatory appears 
to fome difadvantage. This efiablifhment 
was falling into decay daring the latter 
years of the monarch) : at leaft fome of the 
inftruments were fo old, that others, fuitable 
to the prefent improved ftate of aftronomy 
and mechanics, had become abfolutely ne- 
ceflary. Count Catlini, who was at that 
time Director of the Obfervatory, repre- 
fented to the Government the deficiencies 
complained of, and had actually begun to 
make them good^. But the revolution took 
place, Gaffini was obliged to quit the obfe.rr 
vatory, and. the building and inftruments 
were greatly injured in the times of ter- 
rorifm. When that direful period of frenzy 
was part, and the arts and fciences were again > 
thought of, aftronomy and the National 
Obfervatory were not forgotten. It is now 
undergoing a thorough repair, which it 
K 5 much 



202 NATIONAL OBSERVATOEY 

much wanted; and it is to be fupplieci 
with inftruments correfponding to the pre- 
fent perfection of fcience. 

When I firit vifited the obfervatory, I 
found below, in a kind of roomy and well 
furnifhed cellar, a door open, and an old 
man fittting at a table. Suppofing him to 
be the porter, I enquired for Mechain, De- 
lambre, and Bouvard. He told me, that 
Mechain and Delambr.e were gone to Per- 
pignans, in order to meafure a bale line for 
determining a degree of the meridian. The 
fuppofed porter had papers before him, con- 
taining geometrical figures and algebraic 
calculations. I afked him, If he amufed 
himfelf with geometry and algebra ? "Yes, 
in part," replied the venerable man, " but 
chiefly with aftronomy. I was formerly af- 
tronomer of the obfervatory, but aril now, 
as you fee, thruft down into this cellar." 
" Your name ?" " Jeaurat" " And I am 
Bygge, (r\ m Copenhagen, who highly ef- 
teeiri you, and am well acquainted with 
your former labours," It gaye me great 

pleafure 



AT PARIS, 203 

pleafure to become acquainted with this 
worthy man, who calculated the Con- 
yioijfance des Temps from 17/6 to 1787- 
Jeaurat, who is the oldeft of ail the prefent 
aftronomers of theParifian Obfervatory, ef- 
tablifhed and put in order a fimilar erec- 
tion at the military fchoo), and is the au- 
thor of thirty effays in the Memoirs of the 
Academy. It happened to him, as to many 
more, during the revolution, to be fup- 
planted by younger rivals of fuperior inte 
reft, though not always better qualified. 
This aftronomer,in his feventy-fecond year, 
has nothing to live upon but the falary of 
the youngeft member of the National In- 
fiitute, which is 1,200 francs, two fmall 
apartments on the ground floor, and a little 
garden. I requefted him to have the good- 
uefs to (hew me the obfervatory ; but he 
declined it, a«d deprived me of ,an oppor- 
tunity of thanking him. I was then obliged 
to enquire who fuperintended the obfer- 
vatory in the.abfence of Mechain and De- 
lambre ? And w#s anfwered,. Bouvard, ad~ 
K 4 jundt 



20/f 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 



aftronomer, who lives in a fraall feparate 
building belonging to the obfervatory, and 
where Mechain formerly redded for twenty 
years. Bouvard again unluckily was not at 
home,, and I was obliged to content myfeJf 
with- the Citoyen Portier, a follower of St. 
Crifpin, who, for the laft eighteen months, 
had made fhoes, waited at the obfervatory, 
and Chewed it to ft rangers, and I had great 
reafon to be fatisfied with hisfervice. 

On the firft floor, apartments are fitting 
tip for Meehain, who lives at prefent in 
thofe which Caffini formerly occupied; and 
on the other fide of the principal paflage^ 
Meffier is to be accommodated in room?, 
which are now under repair. There is, on 
the fame floor, a fpacious apartment for the 
ufeof the obfervatory, from which is an en- 
trance to the fide building, where tranfit 
inftruments, and mural quadrants are fet 
up, of which I fhall give a more parti- 
cular account. The whole obfervatory 
being at this time under repair, the inftru- 
ments have been laid aiide wherever con- 



venience 



AT PARIS. 205 

venience allowed. The following; are in a 
lower apartment : — 1. A brafs equatorial 
hjirument, made by Haupoir, in 1792* for 
meafuring the declination, having affixed 
on each fide a circle of two and a half feet 
in diameter. It mull: be acknowledged that 
Haupoir is a good workman, as the divi- 
fions appeared accurate, and the whole well 
finifhed : but the inftrument itlelf is by far 
too complex and troublefome to be ufed in 
obfervations. 2. A brafs quadrant, by Hau- 
poir, 1793, of eighteen inches radius, vtry 
well made : this is generally tried for taking 
eorrefponding alitudes. The ftand appeared 
to me to be very weak, and not Efficiently 
fteady. 3. An excellent agronomical time- 
piece, by Berthoud, with a pendulum to 
correal the errors ariling from the influx of 
heat, which is in fa6t nothing more than 
Harrifon's gridiron pendulum. 4. A reflect- 
ing telefcope of five feet, by Dollond. The 
ftand is exceedingly fteady and ftrong ; 
this telefcope is fet up like an equatorial 
inftrument, in order to affift in obferva- 
tions 



205 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 

tions taken off the meridian. It is a tho- 
roughly good internment, executed in fuch 
manner as might be expe&ed from an En- 
glifh artift of Dollond's abilities. I re- 
quefted leave to look through this tele- 
fcope, which the porter granted me, with 
greater readinefs than I expe&ed. I tried 
it on a very remote object, and found it 
exceedingly good, In this apartment are 
the bufts of Colbert, Jacob Caffini, Domi- 
nic Caffini and MaraJdi, all of gypfum. 

In a fmaller apartment adjoining the 
large one above defcribed, was a three foot 
quadrant, made by Langlois in the old 
French manner. This quadrant has over 
it a kind of moveable cap, or fha<le, and has 
been long ufed in taking correfponding al- 
titudes. The French of late have begun, 
to ufe the meridian circles, called by them 
Jnjiriiment de Pajfages, and which was in*: 
vented by our countryman Roemer, under 
the name of Rota Meridiana. This inilru* 
merit has been ufed by the Englifb ever 
fince 17 3 6, and termed by them a tranfit 

inftrument 



■■ ' ' AT PARIS. 207* 

inftrument. De la Caille formed his cata- 
logue of the fixed ftars,by correfponding al- 
titudes, all without the help of that inftru- 
ment. 

I next went into a room, intended for 
tranfit inftruments, and mural quadrants,/ 
and which was under repair, the floor 
and ceiling not having been finished. — 
We then went up into another floor, 
which is very lofty : the height, I {hould 
fuppofe, might exceed twenty Danifh ells. 
In the middle is a large room, on the 
floor of which is drawn a meridian line. 
It fhould be obferved that meridian; lines 
were, at one time, in great vogue in; 
France. I have found them drawn on floors 
at Verfailles, St. Cloudy Trianon, Ghantilly^ 
and many other places. There is nothing. 
in this room but a large telefcope of fixteen; 
feet focus, which formerly belonged to the, 
King, and had been fet up at Pafly. Its 
metallic fpecula have, by negligent treat- 
ment, loft their polifb, and are totally 
fpoilcd. At the bottom of the ftand, is a 

large 



203 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 



large cog wheel, a£ted on by a pinion, by 
moving which the telefcope can be fhifted 
horizontally from one dirc&ion to another. 
From the centre of this wheel rifes a ftrong 
axis, to fupport the telefcope, to which is 
fixed a femidrcle,which, by meansofapinion, 
raifes or lowers the inftrument ; fo that by 
this horizontal and vertical motion, the 
heavens can be fwept at various altitudes. 
The tube of the telefcope is metal painted 
blue with oil colors. Upon the whole, this 
inftrument has but a mean appearance, and 
is of no value. Indeed it ought to be laid 
aficle, uniefs the fpeouk be newly poliflied. 
On one fide of this large room are two 
apartments, one of which is appointed to be 
the library of the obtcrvatory, and the other 
to be the refiderice of Delambre. On the 
oppofite fide is an apartment with windows 
in three dire&ions, which contains the fol- 
lowing inftruments:— }. A reflecting tele- 
fcope of fix feet focus, by Hochon. The 
ftand is of mahogany, made on the plan of 
Herichers Hand to his ieven feet telefcope : 

the 



AT PARIS. 20Q 

the fpecula are of 'platina ; but the por- 
ter could not let me examine them. 2. A 
parallax inftrument carrying a glafs of four 
feet focal diftance. 3. Another on a larger 
fcale, with a tube of fix feet : they are both 
made on the common plan of the French 
parallax inftruments. 4. An acromatic te- 
lefcope of three feet, with triple object 
glaffes, by Rochette. The ftand is firm and 
good, and fuch as Dollond or Nairne 
would have made for a telefcope of the fame 
dimenfions. The object aperture is three 
and a half inches. The porter affi ued me 
in directing this inftrument to an $ i'ome 
clear and diflin6i objects near'.? mttihat4 
tre ; but I found it d . •ui^h 

There is, at the r dpenban 

gen, an mftru . . ft hmewfmm 

as this, by & an Bl .,',. id fej bgift 

the fame manner; out it m far (Ujpcrn ■ o 
this inftrument' of ' Rochette. 3. A 1 
aft onomical timepiece, by Berthoud. with 
a correction pendulum. (3, A (mailer one, 

or 



210 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 

or perhaps one of the fame kind, but with- 
out the appendages. 

On the other floor, which the lingular 
ideas of Perrault, the architect, intended for 
the fole purpofe of an obfervatory, neither 
tranfit inftruments, mural quadrants, nor 
fextantSy can be fct up ; fo that the large and 
impotant agronomical inftruments, which 
are moft wanted in an obfervatory, are here 
totally ufelefs. The floor underneath it is of 
no fervice, except it be by fixing a telefcope 
in one of the windows, in order to obferve 
the eclipfesof the fun, moon, and fatellites 
of Jupiter, or the occultation of fixed flars 
by the moon ; and then there is an incon- 
venience in taking down the time by feme 
other chronometer, or by fignals, according 
to which the moment of obfervation is to be 
determined ; and the calculations for deter- 
mining fuch times are always fubjcdl to 
great uncertain! ies* 

Whoever has feen, or been othenvife 
made acquainted with, the obfervatoiies of 

-Greenwich, 



AT PARIS. 211 

Greenwich, Oxford, 'Edinburgh,* Mah- 
heim, Gotha, and Copenhagen, will find 
that their arrangements, though much more 
fimple, are alfo far more complete and 
commodious, for all kinds of aftronomical 
obfervations, "than this of Paris. 

The porter, in the laft place, conduced 
me up to the platform, where, on a fine 
clear day, one has an excellent view of this 
great city, fo very remarkable, not only for 
its fcientific, but its political hiitory. 

When I had fatisfied myfelf with 'view-- 



* The learned author might have added the Ob- 
fervatory of Glafgow, where Dr. Wilfon, who fuc- 
ceeded his learned and refpectable father as Profeflbr 
of Practical Afttronomy, has watched the motions' of 
the heavens for many years- The Hate of his healtli 
having lately obliged him to vacate his chair, he had 
the obfervatory and the iriftru merits, fome of which 
are very excellent, compleatly repaired, at his own 
expence. And he gerieroufly fettled, on the inliitu- 
'tion, £1000 payable at his death, the intereft of which 
is to be applied to the . progref.fi ve improvement of 
the agronomical apparatus. — Tianflator. ' 

ing 



2 12 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 

ing as much of the obfervatory as the 
porter could, (hew me, I gave him my card 
to deliver to Bouvard. The porter reading 
my name, cried out, " Ah ! I know you 
very well — I am much furprifed at it — this 
is an honour I could not have expected — 
ftay a little, and I will convince you that I 
am right." He went into the library, and- 
brought out different numbers of the u Con- 
noiffanca d£s Temps" in which he (hewed 
me feveral astronomical communications of 
mine to Lalcmde and Mechain. ■" You fee 
now, faid he, that I am not mrftaken." I 
was rather ftruck, with this fantaftical flboe 
maker, this door-keeper of the heavens, who. 
feemed to be fo familiarly acquainted with 
roe, • -merely from his having read my name 
in an agronomical calendar. A few francs 
having fatisfied him for Lis attention and 
trouble, we parted the bed of friends ; and 
he bawled after me, " Come again fbon, I 
am always at your fervice V 

LETTER 



at *AKrs> 213 



LETTER XL 

ACCOUNT OF THE NATIONAL OBSERVA- 
TORY CONTINUED. 

A Time-piece, by Berthoud, goes welh as do 
twelve or fourteen by Arnold — Platina 
well purified, makes excellent fpecula — 
Story of a Reflector of Jixty Feet, with 
platina fpecida, a mere Rhodomontade — In- 
Jlmments of De la Hire, &c. difufed, but 
<preferved-~-Qbfervations interrupted by the 
Revolution-*- Cajfinis large Lunar Chart, 
and Drav/tngs of Lunar maculae, reco- 
vered after being long lojl — His reduced Lu- 
nar Cliurt — The befl is in KeilTs Le£iures> 
as improved by. Lenfonnier — Improvements 
in the Gbfervatory- — Le Noirs tranfit In- 
Jlrument defcribed — Mural Quadrants by 
Bird and Sijfon — Aflroitomical Sector, by 
Graham. 

IT was not long till I revifited the obfer- 
Vatory, though the neareft diftance to 
itj from the place where I redde, in Rue 

Honore 



514 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY 

Honore. is half a Danifh mile. After I had 
paid my refpe&s to the father of the Pari- 
fian aftronomers, the aged Jeaurat, in his 
cellar, I enquired for Bouvard, whom I 
found at home. With all poffible good- 
nefs and complaifance, he (hewed me the 
obfervatory, and fuch curiofities as were 
inacceffible to my afironomical fhoemaker. 
Bouvard had in his apartment, J^afilver 
watch, or chronometer, made by Berthoud, 
and Which belonged to Borda. This had 
been on trial for fifteen months, and was 
found to keep time well : it coft one hun- 
dred louis-d'ors.* I wifhed to fee whe- 

* In jnilice to an artift whofe merit ought to be 
better known than it is, I muft obferve, that excellent 
chronometers have long been made by Mr. Alexander 
Hare, of Greville-ftreet, Hatton-garden, for lefs than 
half the price mentioned in the text. Mr. Hare has 
received letters from his employers in different parts 
of the world, expreffing the higheft fatisfa&ion with 
thofe productions of his ingenuity and experience. 
But fuch is his modefty, that his friends cannot pre- 
vail en him to make thofe letters public, or, indeed, to 
take any other method to make his performances 
known ; and of courfe this note is inferted without 
his knowledge. — Iranjlator. 

ther 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 215 

ther it was of the fame conftrudUoti as Ar- 
nold's chronometer, of which I have from 
twelve to fourteen upon trial at Copen- 
hagen, and have found them all keep time 
excellently; but Bouvard could not in- 
form me, as he was unacquainted with its 
internal ftru&ure. I T t1ien defired to have 
the piece opened, that I might fee the con- 
traction of it. But this again could not 
be done, as there was a cap fcrewed down 
over the w r ork. 2. Coulomb's declination 
compafs : to prevent fri6lion on the fup- 
porting pin, the needle, in this contriv- 
ance, is fufpended by a filk filament, as 
fpun by the worm. The idea is altogether 
excellent, but fiill it is not eafy to make 
the centre of the circle defcribed by the 
needle iteadily coincide with the centre of 
the graduated circumference. 

Befides what I had before feen, and now 
re-examined, at the obfervatory, Bouvard 
fnewed me, 1. the platina fpecula of Ko- 
chon's telefcope. The great fpeculum 
was very good, yet there were here and 

there 




21 6 NATIONAL, QBSERV ATOXIC. 

there fome dark fpeckles oa the furfaee of 
""it, which were undoubtedly owing to the 
platina not being perfectly purified before 
the fpcculum was caft ; as it ftill contained 
ibme fmall quantity of iron. The little 
fpeculum, however, was particularly excel- 
lent and clear, and of a beautiful polifh; 
fo that there are no doubts left, that excel- 
lent fpecula for refle<Sl ing telefcopes can 
be made of platina. 

The frame which faflens and fupports 
the fpeculum was of iron, forming a fquare 
cf two inches. In the corners of which 
were fcrews fattened, which, by prefiing on 
the back of the fpeculum, kept it from 
falling by its own weight. But this mull 
be done with great care ; for the figure of 
the fpeculum would be changed by much 
preffure. Bouvard has now invented an- 
other contrivance for fixing the great fpe- 
culum, namely, by inclining it a little; fo 
that the objecSi is thrown to the other fufc 
*of the farther part of the tube. He then 
took the leaft or favtheft fpcculum away, 

and 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 217 

and difpofed the image fo as to be in a 
right line with ' the eye-glafs. Herfchel has 
very properly made ufe of this method, in 
his large telefcope of above twenty feet ; 
and it can always be ufed to advantage ia 
telefcopes of a fmaller fize, in which the 
head of the obferver intercepts lo much 
light, that the image muft necefiarily be 
indiftinct. 2, Bird's mural quadrant of 
eight feet radius, which formerly belonged 
to Le Monnier, and which will be an excel- 
lent inftrument when fet up on its wall, and 
properly adjulted. 3, De Ia Hire's mural 
quadrant of five feet radius, all of iron. 
4. The elder CalUm's mural quadrant 
of the fame metal, and of- fix feet radius, 
with a brafs adjufier. It is divided by 
dots into fpaces of five minutes, and the 
divifions are taken by a micrometer, after 
the old method of the French aftronqmers. 
The two laft inftruments are not to be fet ' 
up again, but are to be looked upon as ve- 
nerable agents in the fcrvice of aflronomy ; 
lincc it was with them that fo many obfer- 
vations were made in the early part of the 

L prefent 



218 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

prefcnt century. 5, Among the aftvono-. 
mical antiquities, -are alio to be feen eight 
or ten objecSl glaffes, of eight, ten, and 
twelve inches in diameter, and of fixty, 
eighty, one hundred, and one hundred and 
twenty feet focus, by the Italian, Campani, 
who, at the clofe of the laft century, was as 
famous for his refracting telefcopes, as 
Herfchel is at the prefcnt day for his large 
rcfledors. I mufl here obferve, that the 
optical and agronomical rhodomontade of a 
gigantic reflecting telefcope of fixty feet, 
with a platina fpeculum, faid to have been 
made here, has no foundation, and has not 
been heard of, except in a German Ga- 
zette, and fome other newfpapers. With 
the telefcope of Campani, the Cainni's, fa- 
ther and fon, made many difcoveries, fuch 
as the fatellitcs of Jupiter and Saturn,* 

the 

* There appears to be fome miflake here. I ap- 
prehend the following to be the generally received 
hiftory of the dilcovery of the Jovian and Saturnian fa- 
telli'es. — Simon Marius, aitronomer to the Marquis of 
Branclenb rg, discovered all the four fatellitcs of Ju- 
piter, in l609, as h: mentions in the preface to his 

Mundus 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 21Q 

the maculae of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, 
and their rotations round their own axes, &c. 

6, The 

Mundits Jovially printed at Nuremberg in 1614. In 
the mean time, Galileo obferved the fame four fatellites 
in 1 6 10, and publiftied his difcovery the lame year, 
in his Nuncius Sidereus. In 1 655, Huygens difco- 
vered the fourth fatellite of Saturn, and the firft, fe- 
cond, third, and fifth were difcovered by Cailini, 
from 1671 to l6S4. Vide Wolfii Elem. Aftron. [in 
Element. Math. Univ.) § 500,, 5! 9; jfifihh. de Math, 
et lie Phyf. de Saver: en art. Satellites ; Heathcoti Hlfl* 
Afirono?m<Z) j). 46, 81. 

The learned Dr. Zach, however, aflxonomer to the 
Duke of Saxe Gotha, in his Ephemeris for 1788, has 
:made it extremely probable, not to fay absolutely 
certain, that our great Harriot difcovered the Jovian 
fatellites at leaft as early as Galileo, and that Har- 
riot was equally early in the difcovery of the folar 
mzzadtf, which were alfc obferved by that celebrated 
Italian philofopher. Harriot's obfervations on the 
Satellites were made from January 16th, 1610, to 
Feb. £6th, 1612 ; and thofe on the maculae, from 
Dec. 8th, 1610, to Jan. 18th, 1613. Dr. Zach's 
authorities are of a very cogent kind, being a large 
collection of Harriot's unpublished papers, depoiited 
at the houfe of Lord Egremont, at Petworth, in Su - 
iex, and which the Dodtor carefully reviewed in 
L2 1784, 



220 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

6, The rough draught of the obfervations 
from the firlt eftablifhment of the obfcrva- 
tory till the Revolution. A chafm for fome 
years fucceeds ; but now every thing is re- 
eftablifhed in good order, and the arrange- 
ment will be (Jill more complete, when the 
repairs arc finifhed 

The obfervatory is now under the direc- 
tion of the Board of Longitude, by whole 
order Bouvard made me a curious prefent, 
being a copy of the large chart of the 
moon, twenty inches in diameter, which 
Jacob and Dominic Caffini caufed to be 
engraved, after a feries of obfervations for 
nine years, viz. from 1671 to 16SO. 

The plate was loft for about eight or ten 
years, but has been fortunately recovered 
and made public. In the national obferva- 
tory has alfo been found a port-folio, con- 

1794. In the fame papers, he found convincing 
proofs that Dr. Wallis and others had ample reafon 
to charge Defcartes with having taken moil of the 
purely algebraical improvements, to be found in his 
Geometry, from Harriet's Artis analytic* Praxis. 

Tranjlator. 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY , 221 

.*g of iixty leaves, with original draw- 
ings by Lc Clerc, one of the heft draughts- 
men of his age, of lingular and diftin- 
guifhed fpots in the moon. The obfer- 
vations corresponding to thofe drawings,, 
and on which they were founded, are all of 
them in Cailini's own hand-writing. 

The prefent Caffini, about the year ] 788, 
reduced this large lunar chart to a diame- 
ter of eight inches, and had impreffions of 
it taken in blue. I-am pofFeffed of one of 
thofe impreffions, which he fent me to Co- 
penhagen as a prefent. Both thefe lunar 
charts of Caffini are much better refem- 
biances of the moon than that of Tobias 
Mayer, fo much valued in Germany. The 
only thing I have to obferve refpeciing 
this chart of Caffini, is, that the ridge of 
mountains, proceeding in faint ftreaksfrom 
the lunar macula, called Tycho, are not! 
dfftinft or well defined. The lunar chart, 
which I look upon as the moft accurate - 
rcfemblance of the full moc3tt, 'is to be fehi 
in htJlllziUons j4jironomigues 7 Paris 1746, 

L 3 p. 340, 



222 NATIONAL OBSEIIVATOUY. 

p. 140. This book is merely a French 
tranflation of KeiWs Afironomical Lectures, 
with additions and improvements by the 
famous French aftronomer Le Monnier. 

I have before obferved, that there is no 
mural quadrant ere6ted in the building 
appropriated for obfervations ; nor indeed 
does it contain any inftrument of this kind, 
which I can much commend. The ob- 
fervatory is at this time receiving great 
improvements, and will be put into a pro- 
per ftate of repair. For this purpofe, it 
has been found requifite to build a folid 
Wall to the fame height as the lower floor 
of the obfervatory, and to eredt a fide 
building on this bafis, for the reception of 
the inftruments above mentioned. This laft, 
though it appear to be only a protuberance 
on the great body of the edifice, is to be 
the proper and real obiervatory. 

In this fide building are three apart- 
ments : 

\ 9 One for an obferver, in which there is 
a fire-place. 

2, An 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 223 

2, An apartment for a tranfit inftru- 
ment. 

Though this inftrument is not yet 
brought to the obfervatory, I ihall offer a 
dcfcription of it, having been often per- 
mitted to fee it by that fkilful inftrument 
maker, Le Noh\ The achromatic tube is 
five feet in length, and has a very large 
aperture. The two movements, one for 
raifing and depreffing the axis, and the 
other for bringing the inftrument to coin- 
cide with the meridian are very good. The 
extremities o( the axis are of bell -metal, 
and fet in triangular plates. A counter- 
poife balances a part of the weight of the 
tube. The level is excellent, and can be 
very conveniently fixed up, and adj lifted. 
Thefe are entirely new improvements. I 
have an inftrument at the obfervatory of Co- 
penhagen, in conftrucfting which, the fame 
general principles have been obferved. See 
Objervationes AJtronomica Hafmenfes, 1763 
el 1784. In the telefcope are five vertical 
threads, and on this account the eye glafs 
L 4 is 



224 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

is made moveable, and can be fixed before 
any of the threads, fo as to prevent the 
line of vifion from being bent or indirect. 
In the year ] 777> I faw a traniit infirumcnt 
at Greenwich, a dj lifted in the fame man- 
ner. The only thing which appeared to me 
to claim the merit of novelty, in theParifian 
inftrument,was the manner of illumination, 
A and D (Fig. 2.) are bell-metal gudgeons 
on the axis A B C D. E F is a telefcope, 
the objecft-glafs being oppofite to E, and 
the eye-glafs facing F. At D is an aperture 
within the axis, half an inch in diameter, 
and at an angle of 45°, is fixed a metal 
plate G H, in the middle of which is a cir- 
cular aperture I, in a line with the axis 
ER M is a lamp, in a glafs lanthorn, to 
prevent the wind from blowing it out, in 
the time of obfervation, or at leaft to keep 
the flame from agitation, which would 
make the light changeable and unequal. 
The light produced by this lamp falls 
through the aperture D on the plate GH, 
by which it is reflected in the direction IF, 

towards 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 225 

towards the threads and eye-glafs at F, and 
thus the whole field of the telefcope be- 
comes enlightened. This illumination 
fhould be greater for "the larger and clearer 
planets and ftars, and lefs for thofe of 
an inferior magnitude and luftre, which, by 
a ftrong light, would become indiftindh 
To effe6t this, Le Noir has introduced a. 
triangular prifm of green glafs, refting on 
"one arm of a lever, the other arm of which 
is placed towards the obfcrver, and is io 
long, that he can lay hold of it, and there- 
by raife or lower the prifm. When the 
prifm NP is fo depreffed, that the thick 
part towards N comes between the lamp 
M and the aperture D, a number of rays 
are loft, and the light becomes weaker, and 
calculated for the more obfeure ftars. On 
the fame principle, if the prifm be raifed 
higher, the rays will have to pafs through 
a thin body of glafs, and the illumination 
will be ftronger, and adapted to the larger 
and more luminous celeftial objects. The 
ttarknefs of theglafs, and the intervening 
L.5 dimen- 



•'?" 



226 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

dimenfions of the prifm, muft be deter- 
mined by experience. This prifm was 
made of light green glafs, like the com- 
mon glafs for fpe&acles. The depth NP 
of the prifm was four inches, and itsgreateft 
thicknefs at N fomewhat more than an 
inch. This difpolition is undoubtedly well 
contrived, as well as fafe and accurate in 
practice. The common method, however, 
ufed at the obfervatories of Greenwich, Ox- 
ford, and Copenhagen, by an illumination 
plate, without the telefcope, which throws 
the light in through the objedt-glafs, and 
can be eafily fixed, fo as to caft a greater or 
lefs quantity of light, is equally good. A 
defcription and drawing of this method 
may be feen in my Obfervationes Hafnienfes y 
1 7 8 J , 1784, Introduce, c. 2. feel. 18. In 
the Englifh and Danifh method of illumi- 
nation, the glafs is clofed and fhut up ; fo 
that not an atom can enter into it from 
without : on the contrary, in this French 
method, the duft enters through the aper- 
ture D, falls on the illuminating plate GH, 

and 



NATIONAL OBSERTATOHY. 22/ 

and through I, it proceeds to the threads,, 
and to the object and eye-glades. 

The fine particles of matter, floating in 
the air, are more numerous than is gene- 
rally fuppofed by thofe, who have not had 
an opportunity of making obfervations on 
this fubjecl. Thcfe particles will render 
the thread thick and uneven, and the giafs 
dull ; lo that annually, or biennially, the 
Inftrument muft be taken to pieces, and 
the glafles and thread cleaned. The in- 
convenience of having the inftrument to- 
let up again and adjuit, muft be a great 
obftruCtion, in conducting a feries of ob- 
fervations, which require an inftrument to 
be in a perfectly invariable condition. But, 
though thefe defects are not to be denied, 
this tranfit inftrument is well executed, and 
wilj be found a very fine one, when fet up 
on its proper pillars, which Bouvard told 
me. are to be of granite. 

3d, The third apartment in the fide- 
building is intended for a mural q ladrant. 
In the middle of this apartment, a wall h 
L 6 -now 



228 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

now building, of the common calcareous 
ftone, generally ufed at Paris. When thia 
wall is completed, a mural quadrant of 
eight feet radius, by Bird, will be fufpendcd 
on its left fide. The limb of this quadrant 
has a two- fold divifion, namely, into ninety 
and ninety-fix degrees ; and is conftrufled 
in the manner described by Bird, in his 
" Method of eonfiru6ting mural qua- 
drants, London, 1768;" and on the fame 
plan with the Copenhagen mural quadrant, 
of fix Danifh feet radius.* See Obferv. 
AJiron. Hafnlens. IntrorfuH. p. 54. On the 
right fide of this wall, a mural quadrant of 
five feet radius by Siflbn, is to be fuf- 
pended. This was not in the obfervatory ; 
but under repair at Le Noir's, where I faw 
it. The inftrument on the whole was good, 
but of an old conftru6iion, and more 
weakly joined than the quadrant of Bird. 

Thus is this little building (the moft im- 
portant part of this colofial National Ob- 
fervatory) provided for the ufe of iome of 

* Nearly five feet nine and a half inches Engliflv. 
»— Tnm/lator. the 



NATIONAL OBSBRVAtOKY. 22Q 

the moft able and eminent aftronoiners of 
Europe, Mefiier, Delambre, and Mechain. 
Bouvard, the adjunct, who laft year difco- 
vcred a comet, will moft certainly contri- 
bute his lhare towards making a proper life 
of thofe inftruments. Mechain and Bou- 
vard,. who alone live at the obfervatory, 
make the obfervations, and record them in 
very exact and well arranged protocols. 
Mefiier and Delambre told trie, that not 
being inclined to change their abodes, they 
have each of them a frnail obfervatory at 
their own houfes. All the four gentlemen 
are as kind and obliging as they are emi- 
nent for their obfervations and mathe- 
matical abilities. 

It gave me great pleafure to become 
perfonally acquainted with C, Mechain,, 
after his return from meafuring degrees of 
the meridian, in executing which, he infti- 
tuted a feries of triangles from Barcelona 
to Rodes, and, with unwearied induftry, 
afcertained the height of the pole at differ- 
ent places, fituated nearly on the meridian 

of 



230 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

of Paris. Ever fince 1781, I have kept up 
a regular agronomical correfpondence with 
him, Lalande, and Caffini, who, before the 
Revolution, was Comte de Thury, and di- 
rector of the obfervatory. 

I obferved that there was one inftru- 
ment wanting at the national obfervatory, 
namely, an agronomical fecStor often or 
twelve feet radius. Lalande gave me to 
underftand, that there is at Paris an ex- 
cellent inftrument of this kind, being a 
twelve . foot fe£tor by Graham, ufed by 
Maupertius in meafuring a degree of the 
meridian, and that this famous inftrument 
will be brought to the obfervatory. 



LETTER 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. "231 



LETTER XII. 

NATIONAL OBSERVATOE.Y CONTINUED 

OBSERVATORIES OP THE MILITARY 
SCHOOL, OF THE FRENCH COLLEGE, AND 
OF PRIVATE PERSONS. 

Inftruments for ascertaining the magnetical 
Variation — Caves of the Obfervatory de- 
fcribed— Magnetical Variation and Tem- 
perature in them — Searched for Arms and 
Ariflocrats — Obfervatory advertifed for 
Sale — Caffini driven from it, and now in 
poor Circumflances — Platina fpecula by 
Carroche — His excellent Achromatic — Pil- 
lars for the tranfit Inflrument too low — 
Wall of the Mural Quadrant fpoiled by 
the capricious Builder — Mechains Agro- 
nomical Labours — Bouvard*s Comparifon 
of Arabian Obfervations with later ones 
—Defective organization of the National 
Obfervatory — Telegraphs in Paris — Ob- 

fervatories 




232 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

Jcrvntor'ies at the Military School, and the 
. French College — Lalande's Merits nctfuf- 
jlciently acknowledged — Obfer-va tones of 
Mejfier and Delambre. 

^N the 10th Brumaire, 6th year, or 
31 ft of October, ] 7Q8, I was at the 
obfervatory, in company with Profeflbr 
van Swinden, and ^Enea, dire&or of navi- 
gation, both from Holland, and Profeflbr 
Tralles from Swifferland, who, like myfelf, 
were foreign Commifiioners for weights 
and meafurcs. Caffini met us there by ap- 
pointment, in order to fhew us the inftru- 
ments he had confirudted, and the methods 
he ufed for afcertaining the variation of 
the compafs. Before the principal door of 
the obfervatory, on a terrace, at the end of 
Mechain's garden, the inftruments of Cou- 
lomb and Caffini were eredted on a round 
pedeftal of ftone, on which a horizontal 
meridian line was drawn, a vertical fe&ion 
having been alfo raifed on the whole height 
of the building. 

Caffini's 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 233 

Caffini's inftrument is a circle of ten 
inches in diameter, furniihed with a needle 
of the fame lengthy fufpended by a -filk 
filament, after the method of Coulomb, 
and a Nonius at each end points outfingle 
minutes. Over the center is fixed a ver- 
tical Hand to receive a fmall tranfit inftru- 
ment with its level, the line of vifion of its 
telefcope being made to correfpond with 
the diameter of the inftrument at Zero. 

The principal diameter of the inftrument 
can be fet to the meridian by the telefcope, 
and the above mentioned vertical line, on 
the wall of the obfervatory, and by a mark 
on a wall on the other fide of the inftru- 
ment ; and its fuperficies can be fixed ho- 
rizontally by two fcrews below the circle. 
The angle of variation can be thus found, 
either directly or by doubling it, as with 
the circle of Borda, in order to obtain the 
minutes ftil-1 more accurately. With this 
inftrument of Caflini/ the variation was ob- 
fervcd on the 3 1 ft of October, 1708, by 
the following gentlemen : 

By 



234 



4 NATIONAL 


OBSERVATORY. 




By Bouvard 


—— . 


22° 


13'" 


Tralles 


_ 


22° 


11' 


Van Swinden 


_ 


22° 


11' 


Bygge 


n of the 


22° 


itf 


Mean variatio 






needle 


- - . 


22° 


1 l' 45" 



C. Coulomb's in drum en t has a needle 
of twenty-four inches in length, and three- 
fourths of an inch in breadth, fufpended 
by a fmall wire. It is not a perfect circle, 
but has at both ends an arch of about thirty 
degrees, divided by tangents, and over 
each of the arches is a mtcrofcope. It was 
unanimoufly agreed, that there was ibme 
eccentricity, and that the needle was ac- 
curately fufpended. Bouvard, with this 
inftrument, obferved the variation to be 
22°12 / ; fo that with both inftruments the 
obfervations agree v^ry well. Laftly, with 
a variation inftrument, of a conftrucHon 
fimilarto that of mine at Copenhagen, and 
which the meteorological focicty at Man- 

hcim 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 235 

heim had given to the celebrated Le Cotte r 
the variation was obferved to be 22° 24', 
and the excefs of twelve minutes might very 
well be accounted for from an error of the 
fiderial parallelifm with the meridional line, 
which is properly owing to the fudden 
fri&ion of the agate on the Heel. The 
juiinefs of the well known preference of 
Coulomb's method of fafpenfion to the 
common one, appeared on this oecafion 
very evident. 

Caffini went down with us to the caves 
of the obfervatory, which are very remark* 
able. The defcent is by one hundred fteps, 
to the depth of forty feet beneath the furface 
of the earth. The caves particularly con- 
fift of feveral labyrinth paflages of four feet 
in width, and five or fix in height. In 
mod places thofe fubterraneous paflages 
are walled ; but in feveral the natural ftone 
or rock forms the ceiling, in fome places 
the fides, and in ethers the floor. Thefe 
caves are in general very dry, but in fome 
places, either the ceiling or the floor are 

moift* 



'230 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

moift. In feveral parts of the ceiling, drops' 
are cryftallized into ftone and ltala£tites,and 
the moifiure on the floor is covered with a 
flony fcum or membrane. I have feen at 
Stevens's Cliff, in Zealand, the water, iffu- 
ing in this manner out of a chalk rock, 
form a concretion, which fecmed to be flint 
covering foft chalk. 

When Caffini was director of the obfer- 
vatory, he caufed two apartments to be 
conftru6led, and feparated from the laby- 
rinth by a wall : one of thefe apartments 
was defigned for obferving the variation 
of the compafs under ground. In the years 
1783 and 1784, Caffini found no fenflble 
difference between the variation above and 
under ground. See De la Declinaifon et des 
Variations de V aiguille aimantie, par CaJJim, 
a Paris, \7Ql,p. 24. 

In the other apartment was a Reaumur's 
thermometer, made by Bony, under the 
direction of Lavoifier. 

Every degree of this thermometer was 
four inches three lines. Caffini made ob- 
servations 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 23/ 

fervations by it for three years, and found 
that the temperature of the earth, or heat 
of the air under ground, did not undergo a 
greater change than three tenths of a de- 
gree. 

Thefe labyrinth caves and large paflages 
under ground, lead to a grate or iron-doors 
from which there was, in ancient times, a. 
communication with the quarries : but no 
man knows how far, or in what precife di- 
rection, this paflage extends. This grate 
was fet up when the obfervatory w T as firft . 
built. In taking notice of it, Caffini re- 
lated to us fome of his hiftory in the time 
of the Revolution, when his going regu- 
larly every day down to thefe caves, in 
order to obferve the magnetic needle and 
thermometer, gave rife to a rumour among 
the then ruling jacobins and fans-culottes, 
and which, as ufual, acquired in its propa- 
gation, confiderable alterations and addi- 
tions, it was, in ihort, concluded, that 
provifions, arms, ammunition, and aristo- 
crats were concealed in the caves of the 

obfervatory, 



238 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

obfervatory. One morning Caffini was 
very early taken out of his bed, by three or 
four hundred jacobins and fans-culottes, 
armed with firelocks, fwords, pikes, and 
cudgels, and forced half naked to condudl 
them down to the caves of the obfervatory, 
in order to examine thofe fubterraneous re- 
cedes. Caffini told them that he obeyed 
them the more willingly, as he was certain 
the caves contained none of thofe ar- 
ticles which they expected to find in them; 
yet he muft tell them before-hand, that 
the caves of the obfervatory led to a 
fattened iron-door or grate, which opened 
into a hitherto unexplored fubterraneous 
paflage, which, for aught he knew, might 
communicate with places in the city ; that 
he was totally unacquainted with thofe 
paflages, and of courfe could not be an- 
fvverable for what might be found in them. 
Not half drafted, and furrounded with bay- 
onets, fwords and pikes, he was obliged to 
conduct them through all the caves, and 
the inextricable windings and meanders 

of 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 239 

of thofe caves ; and this brave band found 
them, as Caffini had predicted, totally 
empty. They finally approached the iron- 
door, which they found had been forced 
open, probably by fome mafons and fmiths 
belonging to the troop, while the reft went 
in quelt of Caffini. They demanded that 
he fhould conduct them down into the 
iiibterraneous paflages in the rock : but he 
reminded them of what he had before faid ; 
adding, that he was perfe&ly in their 
power, but. that he had rather fuffer death 
on the fpot, than .conduct them down into 
thofe unknown paiiages, for which he nei- 
ther would nor could be anfwerable, and 
that he coolly waited for their deciiion,.. 
even if his death fliould enfue. The moft.. 
important among this corps then held a 
council of war, the refult of which was, 
that Caffini, guarded by fix men armed 
with pikes, fliould return to his apartments, 
and that the reft fhould go down into 
the paflage or cavern. After they had 
proceeded a good way in, and found no- 
thing, 



<240 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 



thing, they became tired, returned back 
agfeinj; and fpared the obfervatory for that 
time. But that edifice has fince been 
often lecfrched, and the inftruments, aftro- 
norhical ' fconftruclioiis and apartments of 
the aflronomers very much injured by fuch 
vintations. 

C; Bonvard, though a ftaunch and zea- 
lous republican^ told, me, that thole van- 
dals once "took' it into their heads to fell 
the obfervatory, and actually wrote, in large 
characters, over the door, 

PROPRIETE NATIONALE A 
VENDRE.* 

The Caffini, whom I have fo often men- 
tioned, began, in 1784, to improve the ob- 
fervatory, to procure new and fuperior in- 
ftruments, and to conduct the obfervations 
on a better and more accurate plan. He 
publifhed yearly, from 1785 till 17 9U a 
number or volume of his agronomical ob- 
fervations, on the fixed ftars, fun, moon 
and planets, calculated and compared with 
* National property to fell. 

the 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 241 

the beil agronomical tables, in order to 
ascertain and correal the errors of thofe 
tables. He fent thofe numbers annually 
to other aftronomers, and he had the good- 
nefs not to forget me. He did every thing, 
in ihort, that could be reafonably expe&ed 
from an able, induftrious, and experienced 
aftronomer. 

In the midit of Caffini's celebrated 
career, the revolution took place. Hav- 
ing been fufpe<5led by the tjerrorifts, he 
was driven from the obfervatory, which he 
had fo honourably conducted, and not 
only deprived of his office and income, 
but confined in prifon above a year ; and 
he has faved nothing but his life, asd a fmall 
property, which he inherited from his an- 
cestors, where this worthy man, with his 
numerous family, exifts upon a fcanty in- 
come. In the o^mion of fomc people, the 
ambition, envy, and egotifm of certain 
other aftronomers, have greatly contributed 
to drive both Caffini and Jeaurat from the 
obfervatory. - 

M . Among 



247 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

Among other contrivances, Caffini had a 
foundery built for cafting the large aftro- 
nomical inftruments, which he intended to 
have had conftru6ted for the obfervatory. 
This foundery, when France w T as filled 
with manufactories of falt-petre, powder, 
and fire arms, was converted into a cannon 
foundery. As relics of that direful and 
alarming period, eight cannons, twelve 
pounders, ftill remain there. But the times 
are now fo much changed for the better, 
that the votaries of the beautiful and paci- 
fic Urania have now nothing to fear from 
thefe difpenfers of the thunder of Mars ; 
efpecially as they are not charged, or fo 
much as furnifhed with touch-holes. 

The beft French optician is the ableCar- 
roche, of whom I (hall on another occaiion 
give a fuller account. Carroche is the 
only man who has caft an ^ ground fpecula 
of platina, which he did for what is called the 
Hochon telefcope, of fix feet. He had the 
goodnefs to go with me to the obfervatory, 
and to (hew me the effccSt of this tele- 
fcope, 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 243 

fcope, and of one of his newly ground fix 
foot achromatics, belonging to Borda. The 
obje6l glafs confifts of a crown and a flint 
glafs, between which is a maftic effufion 
{Maftie en larmes). The aperture of thefe 
conglutinated objedl glafTes, called by the 
French colUs, is fomewhat more than five 
inches. 

The refle&or and achromatic were fuc- 
ceffively dire&ed towards a piece of paper 
fixed at the diftance of four or five hundred 
toifes. This could be very evidently dif- 
tinguifhed by both the inftruments ; but 
with this difference., that the reflector not 
only magnified much lefs, but gave a re- 
markably brown reflection, and an obfeure 
and confufed image : and the telefcopes 
made with the general compofition are 
found to caft a reflection more or lefs yel- 
low. Carroche's achromatic not only mag- 
nifies much more, but has at the fame time 
very great clearnefs. The paper has its 
true, and perfectly white colour, 

M2 On 



244 NATIONAL OBSERAVTORY. 

On the laft day of January 179& I paid 
my final vifit to the obfervatory, partly 
with a view to take my leave of Mechain, 
Jeaurat, and Bouvard, and partly to fee 
how far they had proceeded with the apart- 
ments intended for the, traflfit inftrument 
and mural quadrant. The apartment for 
the former was completed, except that the 
pillars, or pyramidic fnijla, defigned to 
fupport the axis of the inftrument, were 
not finifhed. Bouvard had told me, that 
they were to be made of granite ; but, 
when I approached to view them more mi- 
nutely, I found that they were too low, 
and were to be heightened with a piece of 
marble. Of this joining I by no means 
approved, and endeavoured to perfuade my 
agronomical friends to have the pillars 
made of one piece of marble, or fomc other 
hard ftone. The ftone floor of this apart- 
ment had been laid the preceding fummer ; 
fo that holes were now to be made in it, to 
receive the pillars. It would have been 

more 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 245 

more proper either to have had the pillars 
in readinefs to be fixed when the floor was 
laid, or elfe to have deferred the laying of 
the floor till the pillars could have been 
provided. 

The apartment for the mural quadrant 
was alfo ready, and the muriis y or wall, was 
built. But this wall has three defers. 
1. It is not broad enough at top ; fo that 
a part of the quadrant, from O to 30° in 
height, is without the wall ; nor is it fuffi- 
ciently fupported. 2. The pivots, by which 
the quad rant is to be hung, are fixed fo 
low, that the nethermoft edge of the inftru- 
ment would not be a foot from the floor. 
On this account, no obje<Sl at a great al La- 
titude could be obferved; for it would be 
impoflible for the obferver to put his head 
between the floor and the eye-glafs, or at 
leaft to keep himfelf in a fteady pofition, 
which, in all obfervations, is a moft impor* 
tant circumftance. 3. The wall is built fo 
much forward, that the telefcope of tha 
quadrant doe* not anfwer to the narrow 
M.3 aperture 



246 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY, 

aperture in the fide wall of the apartment ; 
fo that one cannot fee through the tele- 
Icope, as it is fixed on this clumfy wall. 
The confequences are, that, befides build- 
ing the whole wall over again, it muft be 
made broader ; the two pivots of the qua- 
drant muft be fixed at leaft two feet higher, 
which cannot be done without taking away 
the two uppermoft courfes of hewn ftones, 
and fubftituting others much higher : and 
laftly the aperture through which one looks, 
in ufing the inftruments, muft be made 
wider. Broad or wide apertures are, in every 
refpe£t, more convenient than fmall ones. 

The aftronomers of the National Obfer- 
vatory complained of the obftinacy and ca- 
price of the builder, which obliged them to 
have the wall of the mural quadrant al- 
tered. 

. I have already faid, that the aftronomers 
^of the National Obfervatory are Meffier, 
Delambre, Mechain, and Bouvard ; that 
Meffier and Delambre do not refide at the 
obfervatory, and that Mechain is an able, 

induftrious 



NATIONAL' OBSERVATORY. 247 

induftrious, and excellent man, and has la- 
boured in the obfervatory for thirty years. 
In the years 1786 and 1787? he meafured 
part of the longitudinal arch, in order to 
unite the obfcrvatories of Greenwich and 
Paris. See '^Expojition des Operations faites en 
France, pour la Jonffion des Obfervatoires 
de Paris et de Greenwich, par M. M. Cajfini, 
Mechain, et JeGendre, Paris, 1796." From 
1792 to 1798, Mechain has been occupied 
in jneafuring a meridional arch, from Bar- 
celona to Rodes. He has compleated this 
meafurement, and the concomitant obfer- 
vations on the height of the pole, with all 
the accuracy to be expe&ed from fo able n 
man. Befides the place he holds at the 
Obfervatory, Mechain is Hydrographic As- 
tronomer to the " Depot de Marine," or 
The Marine Depofitory : and has collected 
and calculated, with incredible induftry, 
fuch obfervations as contribute to determine 
the extent of harbours and fea-coafts. From 
a correfpondence (/twenty years, which "he 
has held with me, I can bear teftimony to the 
M 4 induftry 



'248 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY* 

induftry he has applied to the northern 
coafts. Mechain poffeffes, and deferves 
the regard and confidence of the Marine 
Minifter, Bruix, and of Vice- Admiral Rof- 
filly, who prefide over the Depolitory. This 
deferving man, however, is not without his 
opponents, and I have heard fome perfons 
take great pleafure in reviling his cha- 
racter. 

Bouvard, who came to the obfervatory 
fince the revolution, is a very induftrious 
and fkilful aftronomer. He always calcu- 
lates his obfervations, and compares them 
with the belt agronomical tables. The ob- 
servations of the Arabians were collected by 
Iben Junis, whofe principal manufcript is in 
the library at Leyden, Jofeph de rifle, 
who formed an extenfive collection of af- 
tronomical manufcripts, had a copy' of it, 
which Mcffier received from him. This 
is now tranflated, and Bouvard has calcu- 
lated oat of it, and compared with our mo- 
dern tables, twenty-fix eclipfes of the fun 
and moon, obferved by the Arabians from 

the 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. J%&Q 

the. year 829 to , 1004,; tvvplye folftices ; 
and feveral occiilt&tjons-of the planets; 
and one of Regains, or x .in ^Leo., by the 
intervention of the, inqqn. He, has found 
that the mean longitude and anomaly of 
the moon muft have decreafed eight mi* 
nutes, and that the place of her node has 
decreafed two or three minutes. He has 
alfo found, that the Arabians were well ac- 
quainted with the menfuration and true 
length of the year, to within about five fe- 
conds of the truth. 

The National Obfervatory h nmv in 
good condition, and provided with excellent 
inftruments, for the common ufe of the 
four eftablifhed aftronomers, Meffier, De- 
lambre, Mechain and Bouvard. In the 
prefent organization of the obfervatory, no 
one of the aftronomers is fubje<5l to ano- 
ther; but all the four are under the control 
of the Board of Longitude. It is poffible 
that this organization may have its advan- 
tages ; but it may alfo be attended with 
inconveniences. As long as perfect harmony 
M 5 and 



250 NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 

and a good underftanding fubfiit among 
the aftronomers, every thing will go on 
well. But unanimity is not always to be 
found in this fublunary world of our's, and 
the interruption of it might be attended 
with feveral difficulties. For inftance, A 
undertakes a feries of obfervations, which 
require that the inftruments fhould neither 
be moved nor altered. B obferves with the 
fame inftruments, and unacquainted, per- 
haps, with the defigns of A, he finds that the 
tranfit-inftrument, or the mural-quadrant, 
requires an adjuftment only of a few fe- 
conds. He alters the inftrument accord- 
ingly, and thus renders A's courfe of obfer^ 
vauous ufelefs. Would not confufion en- 
fue, if all the four co-ordinate aflronomers 
fhould vvifh to obferve at once, one and the 
fame phenomenon; as, for inftance, a pla- 
net's oppofition to the fun, entrance into its 
node, its aphelion, the inclination of its or- 
bit, 8cc. ? Would it not be better, therefore, 
to have this obfervatory organized like all 
the other eftablifhments of the kind in Eu- 
rope, 



NATIONAL OBSERVATORY, 251 

rope, where there is one principal aftrono- 
mer, and the reft affift, and labour under 
his diredion ? But if each aftronomer had 
the command of a feparate fet of inftru- 
ments, the prefent regulations of the French 
National Obfervatory, would undoubtedly 
deferve the preference, 

On the platform are two fmall chambers 
for the accommodation of thofe who attend 
the telegraph there erected. In fummer, fe- 
veral trials were made there, with flag fignals; 
but I am not acquainted with the object 
or the fucceis, of thofe trials ; nor could the 
aftronomers at the obfervatory give me any 
information concerning them. I fhould 
fuppofe that there can be no better con- 
struction of telegraphs than that with one 
principal pole, and two arms moveable at 
the ends ; and fuch is the conftrudftion of 
the telegraph at the houfe of the Marine 
Minifter, on the corner of the Place de la 
Revolution, and Rue St. Florentin ; of that 
at the Garde-meuble, which conveys fignals 
to Breft ; of that on the Louvre, to Liile ; 
M6 and 



252 PUBLIC OBSERVATORIES, &TC 

and of that on the church of St. Sulpicius, 
to Strafburg ; a«d thefc are the only tele- 
graphs at this time in Paris. 

I now proceed to the inferior obfervato- 
ries at Paris, which are to be confidered ei- 
ther as public or private : the public are 
thofe of the Military School and French 
College, and the private ones are at the 
houfes of Meffier and Delambre. 

The obfervatory at the Military School 
was put in order by Jeaurat, and Lalande 
has fince had it under his direction. It is 
on the third floor of one of the wings of 
the Military School. The walls whereon 
the obfervatory and inftruments reft are en- 
tirely folid, all the way up, and carefully 
overlaid ; fo that nothing has been ne- 
gledted to enfure every poffibly degree of 
ftcadinefs. The inftruments are, l, An 
excellent eight-foot quadrant, by Bird. 
2. A very fine four-foot tranfit'inftrument, 
by Lenoir, conftru&ed entirely like the 
meridian telefcope, at the National Obfer- 
vatory, which has been already defcribed. 

The 



PITS LI C OBSERVATORIES, &C. 253 

The place on which it is fixed is but juft 
large enough, and lam rather afraid, that 
this fituation on a high corner wall is not 
the bell ; becaufe the rays of the fun pro- 
duce, on this account, more violent changes 
of heat and cold.. Here are alfo a time- 
piece, a fmaller quadrant, and feveral tele- 
fcopes. Lalande has feveral apartments at 
this obfervatory, though he refides at the 
French College. At this obfervatory, which 
is very well conftru&ed, that ailronomer 
and his nephew ohferve the ma.ny; thou- 
fand ftars, which are nioft of them telefco- 
pic, or invisible to the naked eye. 

The obfervatory at the French College, 
is on the third floor, and contains, 1, A 
fmalltranfit inftrument of three feet, which 
is not well fixed. 2, A common French 
quadrant of three feet radius, with a move- 
able fhade over it, intended for taking cor- 
refpondent altitudes. 3, A four- foot fedtor. 

4, Several time - pieces and telefcopes. 

5, Borda's circle of eighteen inches in dia- 
meter, by Lenoir, which, in my opinion, 

' • is 



254 PUBLIC OBSERVATORIES, &C. 

is the beft inftrument in this obfervatory. 
There are alfo feveral other lefs important 
and older inftruments. 

The obfervatory at the French College, 
as well as that at the Military School, is 
under the infpediion of Lalande. This 
learned man is the Ptolemy of our age; 
for, as the Almageft of that old author con- 
tains a complete body of ancient aftronomi- 
cal knowledge; fo Lalande's aftronomy is 
a complete and excellent depofitory of the 
modern improvements in that fcience. He 
is a man of very extenfive reading, is well 
acquainted with all the agronomical wri- 
ters, and poflefles great literary knowledge, 
qualifications not altogether common, even 
in France. He has greatly improved the 
agronomical tables, by determining and 
calculating their firft principles, from the 
beft modern obfervations. In conjunction 
with his pupil, and intimate friend, Delam- 
bre, he has calculated new tables of the 
planets, which are inferted in the lateft edi- 
tion of his aftronomy, and are the beft ta- 
bles 



PUBLIC OBSERVATORIES, &C 255 

bles of the kind extant. Lalande has a 
very extenfive correfpondence with all the 
aftronomers in Europe, who have laboured 
to promote his favourite fcience. But it is 
admitted that he has loft fome of his repu- 
tation in- Paris, and that fufficient juftice is 
not done to his merit. 

Meffier, fo celebrated for the many co- 
mets he has difcovered, lives at Rue des Ma- 
ihuririS) Mai/on de Clugny, No. 334, and has, 
on the upper floor, a fmall obfervatory, 
containing an accurate meridian line, a 
time-piece, a quadrant, and a parallactic 
machine, wherewith he has difcovered and 
traced his comets. This worthy old man 
is very lively and chearful, as I have expe- 
rienced in the many agreeable hours I have 
paired in his company. Apartments have 
been prepared for him at the National Ob- 
fervatory ; but his age, and the convenience 
he fin Is in his prefent (ituation, and in the 
ufe of his own inftruments, fufficiently ac- 
count for his continuing in his old abode. 

Deiambre, 



258 PUBLIC OBSERVATORIES, &C. 

Delambre, one of the beft and greateft 
aftronomers of France, lives in Rue de Pa- 
radls an Marais, No. 1, where he has a neat 
little obfervatory, with a fmall tranfit in- 
itrument, a good time-piece, which for- 
merly belonged to De la Caille, the two 
circles, which Borda ufed in meafuring a 
degree of the meridian in France, and fe- 
veral good telefcopes. From a feries of 
more than eight hundred obfervations, on 
different circurnpolar liars, with the largeil 
of Borda's circles, he has this winter deter- 
mined the pofar altitude, at his obfervatory ^ 
to within a fecond, or at leaft as nearly as 
the truth can be approached with inftru- 
ments of fifteen or eighteen inches in dia- 
meter, Delambre told me, that, when he 
transferred the latitudes of his own obfer- 
vatory to the National Obfervatory, allow- 
ing for the known difference in latitude, 
afcertained by the meafure of the meri- 
dian, he found the latitude of the National 
Obfervatory to be what Lalande had made 

it. 



PUBLIC OBSERVATORIES, &C, 257 

it. I muftj however, obferve, that owing 
to uncertainty of refra&ion, even when 
Bradley's table is ufed, .as being the moft 
accurate, an uncertainty of a fecond in la- 
titude may ftill remam* 



LETTER 



258 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 



LETTER XIII. 

THE BOARD OF LONGITUDE, THE BOARD 
OF GEOGRAPHY, THE NATIONAL IJBRA- 
RY, AND THE LIBRARIES OF THE ARSE- 
NAL AND THE PANTHEON, 

The Bureau des Longitudes, inftituted in 
Imitation of the Briiijh Board of Longi- 
tude, but with ampler Powers — Of whom 
compofed — Fleurieus large Marine Atlas — • 
Bujinefs of the Board of Geography — Ex* 
cellent Mathematical Tables — The War 
deprives France of Men and Money — Large 
Maps of France and Denmark — Caffs ni 
fufpeded, and his Maps, &c. locked up — 
National Library and its Regulations — 
Pair of Globes thirty Feet in Diameter, an 
ufelefs agronomical Luxury — M.S. Letters 
of Colbert, &c — Prints — Antiques — Egyp- 
tian Cur iofi ties — Shields of Scipio and Han- 
nibal — 



AND NA1£0XAL LIBRARIES. 25Q 

nibal — Intaglios — Antiquities defplfed in 
France — Schools for Oriental Languages 
— Libraries of the Arfenal and Pantheon 
— Libraries, Paintings, &c. of thofe ba- 
nipied, &V. partly dejlroyed, partly formed 
into new Colle6lions. 

EXPERIENCE has proved, that the 
Board of Longitude in London has 
been productive of much good. That lau- 
dable inftitution has been imitated here, 
and the Bureau des Longitudes was eftab- 
lifhed by a decree of the 7th Meffidor in 
the 3d year. But this Bureau is on a more 
extenfive fcale, and endowed with greater 
authority than the Board of Longitude in 
England. The Bureau des Longitudes has 
under its infpedion the National Obferva- 
tory at Paris, and the one at the Military 
School, together with all the aftronomical 
inftruments belonging to the nation. It 
gives orders for the neceffary regulations 
which take place at both theobfervatories ; 
and appoints and pays aftronomers;and at- 
tendants. 



260 BOAR!} OF LONGITUDE, 

tendants. It employs itfelf in improving 
the agronomical tables, and the methods of 
determining the longitude, both by Tea and 
land ; in publishing the agronomical and 
meteorological obfervations; in calculating 
the Connoijfance des Temps, which is pub- 
lished two years in advance, in ordfer that 
the French navigators, when, on long voy- 
ages, they would determine the longitude, 
from the calculated distance of the moon 
from the fun or the ftars, may be under no 
embarrafTment. This, however, cannot hap- 
pen at the prcfent period ; as the French 
have neither trade nor navigation. Priva- 
teers never proceed fo far as to make the 
calculation of longitude neceffary; for they 
take the firft veffel they meet, whether ilie 
belong to friends or foes. The members 
of the Commiffion are men of the greateft 
celebrity : Geometricians, Lagrange and 
Laplace ; Afironomers, Lalande, Mefiier, 
Mechain, and Delambre ; Navigators, Bor- 
da and FJcuricu ; Gmgrafihct, Buache ; 
yfrti/ijC'drroche f Adjmfit AJfron&mers, Fran- 



cois 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 1l6l 

qois Lalandc and Bouvard. Thefe commif- 
lloners meet regularly, once in every de- 
cade, and oftener when circumftances re* 
quire it, in one of the fmaller apartments 
of the National Inftitute. 

Of all thefe members of the Board of 
Longitude, I have either already given an 
account, or intend doing it more fully in 
the next letter. What relates to Fleurieu, 
I (hall mention in this place. He was for- 
merly an officer in the navy, and, fince the 
revolution, was, for fome time, Minifter of 
the Marine. Among many other voyages, 
he made one in the year 17 69, on board 
the frigate Iris, in order to make a trial of 
two of Berthoud's fea time-pieces. He has 
puhli&ed an account of this voyage, in the 
courfe of which, he determined the longi- 
tudes and latitudes of many harbours and 
coafts, more accurately than had been be- 
fore done. He has beftowed much labour 
- on the improvement of fea charts in gene- 
ral, but more particularly on thole of the 
fea of Kamtfchatka, and of the Baltic and 

eaftern 



l6'2 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 

eaftern feas. He fhewed me a large and beau- 
tiful atlas of the above voyage, and which 
confided of about one hundred and thirty 
charts, extremely well engraved. At the 
fame time, he fhewed me a quarto volume, 
already printed, confiding of about three 
feries of alphabets, and containing the aftro- 
nomical, geographical, and nautical obfer- 
vations, by which the fituations of the 
coafts were determined. He not only made 
thofe obfervations, but calculated them 
throughout, or had them calculated by 
others, on the fame plan in which Me- 
chain calculated the great Swedifh and 
Danifii triangles, and deduced therefrom 
the latitudes and longitudes. He found 
it necefiary to correct, alter, and improve 
feveral things in the Swedifh calculations, 
but none in the Danifii, having found 
■all the longitudes and latitudes fuch as 
I calculated, and partly publifhed, them. 
The printing both of the charts and text of 
this important work, was begun in times of 

monarchy. Since the revolution, it has 

been 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 263 

been fufpended for want of fupport. The 
Directory have promifed, however, that the 
printing of it fhall be refumed, as foon as 
money and opportunity will admit. It 
would be a great lofs to the fciences, if this 
elegant and ufeful work, which has coft 
Fleurieu fo much time and labour, fhould 
be laid afide unfinifhed. 

The Board of Geography (Bureau du 
Cadafire) is a very good inftitution, and 
under the fuperintendance of the excellent 
Prony. The geographers employed by this 
Board are all taken from the geographical 
fchool, and are therefore well acquainted 
with theory, and highly capable of perform- 
ing all the menfurations and calculations 
relating to their department. Under the 
fuperintendance of this Board, are executed 
geographical and topographical admea- 
furements and defcriptions of the territories 
of the republic ; geographical maps ; maps 
for particular purpofes, fuch as mir\es, fo- 
refts, farms, inland navigation, &c. ftatif- 
tical calculations of the fquare contents 

and 



2(74 BOARD OP LONGITUDE, 

and population of departments ; population 
of cities, &c. 

To this Board alfo belongs the calcula- 
tion of new mathematical tables, according 
to the centefimal fyitem, (namely, one hun- 
dred degrees to a quadrant, one hundred 
minutes to a degree, one hundred feconds 
to a minute, &c.) both for the natural and 
the logarithmic fines, tangents, &c. Ac- 
cording to fome formula publifhed by Pro- 
ny, the fine of any angle after 30° 1(/ on the 
top of the page, is calculated by the differ- 
ences 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. for every ten feconds, 
while the differences are invariably the fame. 
The number of decimals, if my memory do 
not fail me, amounts to -fixtcen places. At 
the bottom of the page, the fine is in like 
manner calculated for the angle there 
fituated, 30° 3(/, with all its differences. By 
the regular method of adding the differ- 
ence, one finds the fine of 30° 10 / 10' 7 , of 
30° 1C/ 20 ', of 30° \& 30", &c. and can 
proceed all the way hhrofc fc^ to 30° 30% at 
\k& bottom of the page. By the differences, 

and 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 265 

and their additions, the fame refult will be 
given to the lowermoft angle at the bottom 
of the page, as has been calculated by Pro- 
ny's for mida of infinite feries. By this me- 
thod, thofe difficult calculations are made 
fo perfect and fimple, that any one can fill 
up occasional deficiences. Thofe tables are 
calculated by two perfons, who compare 
their refults ; fo that no error can remain 
undetected. The page is to contain the 
logarithms of fines, tangents, cofines and 
cotangents, moll of which are already cal- 
culated. Prony fhewed me fome ftereotype 
proofs of the impreflions of thofe tables, by 
Didot, inventor of that mode of printing. 5 * 

* The appofite name, Stereotype, may Have been 
firft applied b) T that excellent printer, Didot ; but the 
art was invented, about the year 1725, by a Mr. Ged, 
who, among other books, printed a a very neat 24to. edi- 
tion of Sail uft, by that method. But, after perfevering 
many years, he was obliged, by a fhameful combina- 
tion, to abandon it. I have Ged's Salluft, and 
have feen his plates of the 13th and 102d pages 
of that work, which has for imprint, " Edin- 
SURGI : Guliehmis Ged, aurifaber Edinenjis* non typi* 
N mabilihnt^ 



26Q BOATtD OF LONGITUDE, 

It will be very long before thofe laborious, 
expenfive^and copious tables can be printed; 
but they will be the mod complete and ac- 

• mobilibus, ut vulgo fieri folei ', fed tabellis^feu laminis fufis, 
excudebat, MDCCXLIP^ that is, "Edinburgh : Print- 
ed by William Ged, Goldfmith in that City, not with, 
common moveable Types, but with fufed, or call, 
Tlates, 1744."— In 1/82, Mr. Alexander Till och re- 
vived, or rather re-difcovered , this art ; for he was igno- 
rant of Mr.Ged's invention, till long after he had per- 
fected his own ; and, in the fucceeding year, he took out 
a patent for it, in conjunction with Mr. Andrew Feu- 
lis, printer to the University of Glafgow. In attempt- 
ing to introduce it, they experienced fome illiberality 
from the bookfellers. Yet they printed feveral vo- 
lumes in that way, one of them a 4toXenophon, and fold 
them to the Trade, without their knowing how they 
were printed. Conitant occupation and other caufes 
have prevented the parties from availing themfelves of 
their patent ; but Mr. Tilloch had brought the art to 
fuch perfection, that the people employed made plates 
of nil fixes, with as much facility and certainty, as if 
they had been making tiles, or purfuing any other pro- 
cefs, which requiresmere labour, without ingenuity, 
Mr. Tilloch obviates the great objection to his art, by 
cutting out and replacing, any damaged or erroneous 
part of a plate, with the utmoft eafe. 

Tranfiator. 

curate 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 26? 

curate that have ever appeared. Prony has 
confulted all his preceding labourers, Rhe- 
ticus, Vlacq, Petifcus, Gardiner, Schultz, 
Vega, &c. In the new ftereotypic edition 
of Callet's Tables, the fines are inferted 
after the new divifion of the quadrant into 
100°, but not into centefimal minutes. 

Borda intends publifhing new tables of 
fines, in centefimal degrees, minutes, and 
feconds, conftruCtcd in a commodious 
and perfect form, for finding out the fe- 
conds ; nearly on the fame plan as that on 
which Pezena and Callet's tables are con- 
itruCted for go degrees, with fexagefimal 
divifions. On my vifits to Borda, I have often 
found him occupied in correcting his tables. 
He complained that he could procure no pa- 
per, and muft itill defer the printing of them. 
Since the revolution, manufactures of al- 
most every kind, have either been flopped, or 
carried on very flowly. Money, that great 
fpring which keeps the world in motion^ 
has been wanting in their manufactures^ 
commerce and every eftablifhment what- 
N 2 ever 



..208 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 

ever. In fome parts of the country, the 
want of men has alfo been felt; for, when 
it is considered, that the government have, 
this laft year, impofed a confcription of 
200,000 men, befides from 4 to 600,000 al- 
ready carrying arms, hands muft necelTarily 
be wanting in manufactories, which, even 
before this confcription, were at a ftand. 

It has been already fhewn, that geogra- 
phical maps are under the fuperintendance 
of the Board of Geography. Caffini and 
De la Hire had, in theclofe of the laft cen- 
tury, proceeded in meafuring a part-of the 
meridian of Paris; Caffini, the fon and 
grandfon, have fince completed the reft of 
the meridian through France,and tothis me- 
ridian have drawn a perpendicular. Finally, 
Caffini and De la Caille r in 1740, repeated 
the whole meafurement of the meridian 
through France. See" La Mer'ulienne verifiee 
far Cajfmlde Tkiry, Paris, IJAA." Since 
that time, the geographical Situations of 
many fea-ports, towns and churches have 
been determined, and their latitudes and 

longitudes 



ANB NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 26(T 

longitudes Accurately afeertained. Befides 
drawing this meridian over a part of France^ 
as a bafis for an exadt and; general map, 
the Caffini ? s had it in- view to compkat 
thefe great triangles, by a general admea- 
furement of the fituations of particular 
places, country -■ towns* catties,-, enclofures,. 
woods, roads, feas, rivers, fea-coafts, &c. and, 
to publifh an exadt general map of Frances 
But the neceflary advances and fubfcrip- 
tions were wanting for purchasing, inftru- 
ments, and paying for the furveys, and for 
drawings engraving,, and publiftiing, the 
maps. Thefe extraordinary expenccs, how- 
ever, were defrayed, partly by the fupport 
of government, and partly by private con- 
tributions and loans.- An account of thefe 
fubferiptions and contracts is to be ieen in 
" Def caption Geometrique de la France, par 
M. Cqffini de Thury, DireSleur de TOlfer- 
vatoire Royal, a Paris, \?83,pp. 1 94 — 200 : 
Brojet et Afte d "Affectation, pour Tentreprifc 
d'une Carte generale de France, par M. Caf-> 
Jim de Thury, pp. 200 — 207 : Brojet de 
N 3 Soufcription 



2/0 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 

Soufcrlpilon pour la Carte de France, en 1J0 
feuilles, fropofe far M. Cajfim de Thuty. 

The work was begun about the year 
1740, and is at this time continued. 
Thefe maps which, by the bed informed 
geographers, are called TheCaffinianMaps, 
arc one hundred and eighty-three in 
number, and form an atlas of France, fo ac- 
curate and beautiful, that no other ftate 
whatever can produce a fimilar work. In 
the fmall kingdom of Denmark, the Aca- 
demy of Sciences have at leaft imitated, if 
not furpafied', this excellent defign : and it 
is with pleafure I refledl, that thofe geo- 
graphical admeafurements were the princi- 
pal labours of my youth, and are ftill carried 
on under rny direction. The prefent Caf- 
fini and his aflbciates had almoii finifhed a 
general map of France, when the revolution 
took place. 

I have before obferved, that Caffini was 
fufpedled of royal ifm and ariftocracy. The 
ruling party fcized the draughts of the ad- 
meafurements, drawings, and copper-plates, 

and 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 271 

and even the innocent white paper belong- 
ing to Caffini, and depofited them altoge- 
ther at the Board of Geography, where they 
ftill lie, and of which, for the prefent at leaft,- 
no impreffion can be obtained ; fo that the 
Caffinian maps will, in future times, be a 
rare and fcarce collection. Caffini com- 
plains bitterly on the fubjedl, and hasffiewn 
me copies of feveral petitions to the Govern ^ 
ment for reparation. It is poffible that go- 
vernment may have good and fufficient 
reafons for preventing the circulation of 
thefe charts, while internal commotions 
are apprehended ; but, on the other hand*- 
equity and juftice require that the property 
of Caffini and his affociates fhould not be- x 
injured, and that the lofs they have f at- 
tained fhould be made good. 

The Nat 'tonal 'Library , formerly the King's-- 
Library, is fituated in Rue de la Loi, for- 
merly Rue Richelieu, oppofite to the great 
Opera-houfe. The fouth fide faces the 
Rue Native des petit Champs, and its north 
fide is in the Rue Colbert. The building 
N4 of 



27'2 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 

of the library, with its appurtenances, 19 
very large ; its length in Rue de la Loi be- 
ing no lefs than eighty-five toifcs, and its 
tread th between the two fireets abovemen- 
tioncd, twenty toifes. In the court of the 
National Library, is a fine ftatue of bronze, 
reprefenting a woman landing on one foot, 
in a \cvy eafy and natural attitude. The 
principal floor of the building, which fur- 
rounds this large court, is entirely filled 
with books, from the floor to the deling ; 
it is furrounded by a flight gallery, fr6?n 
which one can reach the books on the up- 
per fhclves. At the windows, and in dif- 
ferent parts of one of the wings, tables have 
been placed for the accommodation of read- 
ers. While the weather continued mild and 
fair, I always found from forty to fixty per- 
fons, fome of them ladies, reading at thofe 
tables. The library is open every day, ex- 
cept the decade days, from ten to two, for 
the accommodation of readers ; but no 
books are lent out. For fuch as only wifh 
to fee the library, it is open from ten to 

two 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 2/3 

two, every third, fixth, and ninth day of the 
decade. 

In a fmall recefs of one of the four fides 
of the library, is a group of about five feet in 
height and fix in breadth, eredted in the 
time of Louis the Fourteenth. It repreients,* 
as far as I could collect, Parnafliis with 
Apollo and the Mufes, and feveral attri- 
butes applicable to the sera of that Monarch. 
There are alfo in the library fome buits of 
celebrated French literati, and of others, 
who have contributed to the improvement^ 
and augmentation of the library, . . 

In the other wing of the library, a very i' 
large perforation in the floor prefents two- 
large globes, the celeftial and the terref-. 
trial, which fhmd on the floor below, and 
their upper parts project above the floor of 
the library. Thefe globes are thirty feet in 
diameter. The Meridians and horary cir- 
cles are gilded. On the terfeftrial globe, - 
the water is coloured blue, and the land 
white. Cities are painted with red and 
gold colours, and the mountains -with a 
N 5 green 



274 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 

green ground, and (haded with brown. The 
ground colour of the celeftial globe is a 
light blue, and the figures of the conftella- 
tions of a darker blue ; the fixed ftars are 
inferted according to their right afcenfion, 
declination, and magnitude, and all very 
thickly gilt. Thefe globes are very well 
executed, and are the largeit I have ever 
feen. They are a piece of art characteriftic 
of the clofe of the laft century, when they 
x\ 7 ti'Q made, and when large globes were in 
great repute. Bat they are, in fact, nothing 
more than an aftronomical luxury, a piece 
of fcientific profusion, of no real effectual 
fervice ; though they mud have coft a very 
considerable ium of money. 

Caperronnier, the prefent librarian, fup- 
pofes the library to contain about 300,000 
volumes. It is very incomplete in modern 
literature ; for, fince the year 1780, no 
new books have been added to it, not even 
French, and much lefs foreign productions. 
Of this laft defcription, feveral capital works 
fecm wanting ; fo that in the midft of this 

great 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 275 

great opulence, a kind of literary penury is 
ftill felt. The national and other libraries 
have received considerable augmentations 
from the libraries of monafteries and emi- 
grants. This is an eafy, and a very cheap , 
method of increafing a flock of books. 

The manufcripts, to the number of 
80,000, are in more retired apartments, 
The oriental mannfcripts are kept by Lan- 
gles ; thofe in Greek and Latin by Laporte 
Datheil ; and thofe in the modern Ian- - 
guages by Legrande. The' roanufcripts. 
are divided agreeably to this clarification, 
and are well arranged. Since thefe fubjedts ■ 
are foreign to my fphere of ftudy, I {hall < 
only relate fuch obfervations as I made, in 
a curfory manner. Here is a complete 
collection of Colbert's letters in about fixty,- 
volumes. A volume of letters, fome in. 
Englifh and others in French, written by 
Henry VHIth of England, in a good, le- 
gible hand. A volume of letters from King 
Henry IVth of France to one of his mif- 
treiles: his hand-writing is tolerably neat 
N 6 and 



276 BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 

and legible, and he has exprefied 'hirnfelf 
with much vivacity and gallantry. To in- 
dicate the ardour of his amorous attach- 
ment, he fays, " Je vous aime plus, que vous 
aimez vous mente." I love you more than you 
love yourfelf. Here is a large colled ion of 
the French King's heares, or miflals, all 
written very beautifully on the finelt vel- 
lum, and embellifhed with elegant borders 
and fine drawings, m oft of them fcripture 
hiftories.On every leaf ofone of thofe miflals, 
is a beautiful drawing of a flower, with 
its name in Latin and French, fa that it 
forms a collection of botany as well as re- 
ligion. Vanquifhed Italy has been obliged 
to contribute her mite to the treafury of 
the national library ; for all the mod valu- 
able printed books. and the fcarceft manu- 
scripts, have been taken from the Italian li- 
braries. Among thofe Italian manufcripts, 
I particularly obfervcd two Codices in 
parchment, a Terence, and a Horace, from 
the library of the Vatican. I am no hun- 
ter after various readings ; yet it is poilible 

that 



AND NATIONAL LIEU ARIES. $?f 

thefe Codices have no critical merit, but are 
remarkable only for their external beauty 
and excellent prefervation. 

Two rooms belonging to the library are 
filled with a large collection of prints, which 
are under the fuperintendance of Joly. 
Some pieces are hung to the walls, but 
moft of them are in port-folios and cafes, 
Here in particular is a collection of about 
fixty volumes of prints of remarkable tranf- 
actions and events, in the hiftory of 
France, arranged according to the year, or 
reign, down to the time of Louis XV. 

The collection of antiques and coins is 
at the end of the library : the keepers are 
Barthelemy and Millin. The latter gen- 
tleman is remarkably attentive to ftrangers, 
and every feventh day of the decade has an 
agreeable party to drink tea at his houfe^ 
where he is glad to fee foreign travellers. 
Mr. Manthey, fecretary to the Danifh em- 
bafly, whofe civility and goodnefs I thank- 
fully acknowledge, firft introduced me to 
this fociety, in which I enjoyed much com- 
fort 



278 BOARD OF LONGITUDE 



fort and fatisfa&ion during my ftay in 
Paris. 

Millin reads public lectures on archaeo- 
logy every fecond, fifths and eighth day of 
the decade. He is editor of the Magazin 
Encyclofiedique, and is well known by his 
other publications. The collection of an- 
tiques and coins is not open to the public, 
but is to be {ttn by particular permiffion. 
Millin had the goodnefs to (hew this col- 
lection to Captain Friboe, Mr. Wedege, 
Mr. Duncan, myfelf, and other travellers. 

Straight againft the entrance and over 
the chimney-piece, various Egyptian anti- 
quities meet the eye ; fuch as an altar of 
bafalt, an Ifis, Anubis, and feveral curiofi- 
ties of bronze, fione, and burnt clay. Here 
is a mummy taken to pieces, the upper 
covering having been taken off, and ex- 
tended upon the wall : it is remarkable 
for its fine colour and drawings, which 
without doubt were emblems of reli- 
gious ceremonies. Near the fire-place are 
drawers, containing French and other me- 
dals, 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 279 

dais, chiefly of gold. On the wall to the 
right of the door, are hung up lamps, and 
facrificin^ knives and veifels of bronze, 
Between the windows, on the fame fide, are 
feveral large chefts with glafs-lids, con- 
taining antiquities ef the primitive times of 
Chriftianity, chiefly Greek. In the third 
and fourth divifioiis, are flones cut in bas- 
relief, faint of them Greek, and others. 
Roman productions, Almoft all of them 
have been executed in flones, which have 
their laminae of different colours, difpofed 
in fuch a manner, that the features of the 
figures had one colour, but the hair, hel-* 
met, clothes, &c. different ones. There , 
are among them many beautiful and excel- 
lent pieces. At one end of the room, are 
feveral warlike inftruments of different In- 
dian nations. On the floor, ftands a large » 
antique marble table, with a Latin inscrip- 
tion ; and the Walls are decorated with the 
Ihields of Scipio and Hannibal, which were 
once fufpended in temples. They are of 
filveiy and of very beautiful workmanfhip. 

By 



2S0 BOABD OFL0NGITUDE, 

By the fide of them are placed the arms of 
Francis the Firft, fuch as his helmet, 
fhield, fword, -battle-ax, and fpurs, all of 
fteel, inlaid with gold, and mod exquifitely 
formed. On the fhield are Arabian draw- 
ings, executed with regularity and tafte. 
His ftirrups which are of filver, gilt and 
carved with open work, are placed under- 
neath. 

Between the Windows on the left hand 
fide, are feveral intaglios : In the fides of 
mofi: of them are incifions through which 
one can difcover their comparative beauty. 
At the end of this fide is a cafe which 
contains a very valuable ftone, with feveral 
figures projecting out of it. It is about 
twelve inches high and ten inches broad, 
and having been broken quite through, it 
has been joined with fuch art, that the 
fradture cannot be diftinguilhed. In this 
cafe are different vafes of ftone, one of 
which is of fardonyx, about feven inches 
high, and five in diameter. Miilin afliircd 
us, that the pieces in this cafe are the moll 

beautiful 



AND NATIONAL L1BRAEIES. 2S1 

beautiful and curious of their kind in 
Europe. 

In the nuddle of this cabinet of antiqui- 
ties, is a long table covered with Hetru- 
rian vafes of fuperior beauty. Under the 
table are drawers, containing Greek and 
Roman coins, both of gold and filver, and 
a veflel of the former metal, about eight 
inches in diameter, in which are a great 
number of old gold coins. 

After having viewed this room, where 
every thing was arranged in the beft man- 
ner, Millin conduced us to the third floor, 
where are two apartments, which contain a 
very large and remarkable afiemblage of 
antiquities ; Hefrurian vafes of extraordi- 
nary magnitude ; a bathing veflel of por- 
phyry in good pcfervation ; figures in 
bronze ; facrificing knives, lamps, houfe- 
hold furniture, &c. not fufpended fepa- 
rately on the walls, but placed here and 
there along the floor, as convenience ad- 
mitted. Thofe apartments on the third 
floor, feemed to bo more diilmguifhed as 

antiqua- 



282 BOARD OP LONGITUDE. 

antiquarian lumber rooms, than for any 
regular arrangement of the many valuable 
curiofities which they contain. Millin, for 
above three years, has been requefting mo* 
ney for conftruiting cafes and fhelves for 
arranging and containing this chaos of an- 
tiquities ; but his applications have not yet 
been attended to. He is full of zeal and 
activity in this his favourite purfuit: he 
complains that the ftudyof ancient litera^ 
ture and arts are not only negle&ed, but 
totally defpifed, as unneceffary for forming 
a good tafle and accurate ideas of the fine 
arts. On the firft of Vendemaire, or laft 
of September, none of the attendants be- 
longing to this collection had received any 
falary for the preceding eight months. 

By a decree of the 10th Germinal, in 
the third year, a fchool was infiituted, ad- 
joining to the National Library, for the mo- 
dern oriental languages, where public lec- 
tures are delivered by Langles, on the Per- 
fian and Malay languages ; by Silveilre 
Sacy.,_ on the common and learned Arabic ; 

and 



AND NATIONAL LIBRARIES. 283 

and by Bohenam, on the Turkifh and Tar- 
tarian. 

While I was in Paris, my countrymen^ 
Dr. Mliller, Dr. Engleftofu and Dr. Thor- 
lacius were alfo in that city. As thofe 
gentlemen regularly vifited the National 
Library, they will be able to give very par- 
ticular accounts of that eftablifhment; nor 
is it to be doubted, that when opportunity 
ferves, they will favour the public with 
fome of their obfervations. 

Befides the public libraries mentioned in 
this and preceding letters^ there are the 
two following : 

1. The library of the arfenal, which is 
fuppofed to contain 75,000 printed vo- 
lumes, and 6 } 000 manufcripts, and which 
formerly belonged to the Count d'Artois* 
It is open every firft, fixth, and eighth day 
of the decade, from ten tiil two. 

2. The library of the Pantheon, formerly 
the library of St. Genevieve, which con- 
fills of about ] 00,000 printed volumes, and 

2G00 maim- 



284 BOARD OP LONGITUDE 



2000 rfianufcripts, and is decorated witli 
different marble bufts of French Literati. 

Before I quit this fubjedt, I rnuft remark, 
that on the firft appearance of terrorifm, 
the libraries, paintings, natural curiofities, 
and inftruments of fuch as were banifhed 
or put to death, were partly deftroyed, and 
partly carried off. But the more prudent 
put a flop, as foon as poffible, to thofe 
robberies - and it was refolved, that all fuclr 
articles fhould be confidered as national 
property, and be collected and preferved, 
until farther orders. Of fuch colledliona 
of books, three depots have been formed 
one in Rue des Capucins y one in Rue des 
Cordeliers, near the Medical Sehool, and 
one near the Central School in Fcmxhourg 
St. Antoine y ou ci-de c xmut Jefuites. Thole 
books arc now arranged and diftributed 
among the libraries of other Inltitutes in 
Paris, and m the departments; and I Lave 
often feen cart loads of books taken froi-i 
thofc colledionso 



LETTER 



^THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. ^85 

LETTER XIV. 

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, WITH AN AC- 
COUNT OF ITS MEETINGS. 

Academy of Sciences, Wc. founded by Louis 
XIV. and Colbert — Refpeciable at the Re- 
volution — National Inflitute, founded on 
their Ruins, more comprehenfive — Its Mem- 
bers, Claffes, Sections, and Times of Meet- 
ing — Propofes Prize Qjueflions — Its Mem- 
bers and Pupils to travel for Information, 
at the Public Expence — 'Is the firft learned 
Body in Europe — National Palace of the 
Arts and Sciences defer ibed — Fir e-ef capes, 
which did not anfwer the End — Meetings 
of the Iujiitute, and Memoirs read — Mi- 
niflerial Impertinence and Partiality, in the 
Cafe of Brail e — Numerical Telegraph 
propofed — Mafkelyne's Name partially 
emitted in a Report concerning the Longi- 
tude — Excellent Pun — Mercury frozen — 
Severe Frofi at Paris — Reviews of the 
Inflitute, impartial and well written — Mh- 
niflers often ajk the Opinion of the Inftitute 

—Its 



1280 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE 



; 



—Itsfolemn Meetings — Artifls rewarded 
and crowned. — Arts and Manufactures — 
New Animal — Bougainville s Eulogy of 
Cook) &c. — Memoirs, Publications and 
Purfuits of the Members, of the National 
Inftitute — The Author falfely accufed of 
calumniating that learned Body. 

LOUIS XIV. and his minifier Colbert, 
were both favourable to the fciences. 
Seeing their happy influence on .naviga- 
tion, arts, manufactures and trade, they 
encouraged and patronized the cultivators 
of fcience and ufeful arts. In order to 
promote agriculture, and extend fcientific 
inquiries, Louis XIV. founded €i The Aca- 
demy of Sciences/' which comprehended 
mathematics in all their branches, phyfics, 
natural hiftory, chemiftry, and medicine : 
he alfo eftablithcd the Academy of Belles 
Lettres, the Academy of Infcriptions, the 
Academy of Surgery, and the Academy of 
Architecture. Thefc academies, as appeal's 
from their memoirs, have always confided 
of abfe and fkilful men, who have thrown 

new 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 287 

new light on the arts and fciences, in their 
writings, and have enriched them by nu- 
merous and important difcoveries. At the 
commencement of the Revolution, the 
Academy of Sciences in particular, in- 
cluded fome of the greatefl men in Europe, 
in their refpective departments. To be 
convinced of this, we need only name the 
mathematicians Lagrange and Laplace ; 
the chemifts Lavoifier and Fourcroy ; the 
natural hiftorians and mineralogists Dau- 
benton, Lacepede, and Hauy ; the aftro- 
nomers Lalande, Meffier, and Delambre ; 
not to mention many others who have con- 
tributed more or lefs to the exten-fionr of 
fcientific inquiries. 

During the Revolution, all preceding mo- 
narchical inftitutions underwent a change, 
and even the free temples of the fciences 
were fubverted. Upon their ruins, was 
founded the National Inftitute, which not 
only comprehends all the branches into 
which the academies of fciences, and of 
the Belles LetPres, were formerly? fubdi- 

vided, 



128B THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 

vided, but alfo includes logic, morals, and 
politics. 

The decree, which eftablifhed the Na- 
tional Inftitute, patTed the 3d Brumaire, 
4th year, or the 24th of October, J 795. 
According to this decree, the Inftitute be- 
longs to the whole republic ; but is to be 
fituated in Paris. Its object is, to extend 
the limits of the arts and fciences, by difco- 
veries and inquiries, and by correfponding 
with learned focieties in foreign countries. 
By the refolution of the Directory, the 
Inftitute is to undertake and promote fuch 
fcientific labours as conduce to the general 
utility and honour of. the Republic. It 
confifts of 144 members, reftding in Paris, 
and of an equal number in other parts of 
the Republic, and it may additionally ad- 
mit eighty foreign aftbciates ; but they 
have not yet been chofem The National 
Inftitute confifts of three claffes : the firft, 
or mathematical and phyfical clafs, is di- 
vided into ten fcdlions, each of which has 
fix members. 

Tlie lft fedion. Mathematics; La- 
grange, 



AND ITS MEETINGS, 28Q 

grange, Laplace, Borda, Boffut, Legendre, 
and Delambre. 

2d Seel. — Mechanics; Monge, Prony, 
Leroy, Perier, &c. 

3d Se6t. — Aftronomy ; Lalande, Me- 
chain, Meffier, Jaurat, &c. 

4th Se6t. — Experimental philofophy ; 
Charles, Briflbn, Coulomb, Lefevre, &c. 

5th Se6t.— Chemiftry ; Berthollet, Gui- 
ton Morveau, Fourcroy, Vauquelin, &c. 

6th Sect.- — Natural hiftory and minera- 
logy ; Darcet, Hauy, Dolomieu, &c. 

7th Sect. — Botany ; Lamarc, Adanfon, 
Juffieu, L'Heretier, &c. 

8th. Sect. — Anatomy and Zoology ; Dau- 
benton, Lacepede, Cuvier, &c. 

gth Se6t. — Medicine and Surgery ; Def- 
farts, Sabatier, Portal, Laflus, &c. 

10th Secft. — Agriculture and the Veteri- 
nary art ; Thouin, Cels, Parmentier, &c. 

There are, in all, in this clafs, 60 mem- 
bers at Paris, and an equal number in 
the departments,, where they are alfo di~ 
O vided 



2Q0 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

vided into ten fe6tions, each confiding of 
fix members. 

The fecond clafs comprehends Moral 
and political fcience. and is divided into fix 
fe6Hons, each confifting of fix members ; in 
all thirty-fix members, and as many in the 
departments. 

lit Se6l. — The analyfis of fenfations and 
Ideas.— 2d Se<a. Morals.— 3d Se6l. Civil 
fociety and laws. — 4th Se6l. Government. 
— 5th Sed. Hiftory.— 6th Soft. Geogra- 
phy. 

The third clafs is occupied with litera- 
ture and the fine arts, and is divided into 
eight fe&ions, each fix members ; in all 
forty-eight members in Paris, and as many 
in the departments. 

lft Se6l. Language or grammar. — 2d 
Se&. Ancient languages. — 3d Se6t. Poe- 
try. — 4th Se&. Antiquities and monu- 
ments. — 5th Se&. Painting. — 6th Se#. 
Sculpture. — 7th Se6l. Architedture. — 8th 
Sed. Mufic and Declamation, 

Every 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 2C)1 

Every clafs meets twice in every decade; 
the firft clafs on the firft and fixth clays ; 
the fecond on the fecond and feventh days; 
and the third on the third and eighth days. 
Each clafs has its president and two fecre- 
taries, who are elected by the clafs they re- 
fpe&ively belong to, and continue in office 
for fix months. 

On the 5th day of the firft decade, in 
every month, the three clafles unite, and 
hold a general meeting, to deliberate on 
fuch affairs as relate to the general inte- 
refts of the Inftitute. The oldeft of the 
three prefidents of the clafles then takes 
the chair, and a&s as prendent of the 
whole Inftitute. 

The National Inftitute has four public 
quarterly meetings ; namely, on the 15th 
of the months of Vendemiaire, Nivofe/ 
Germinal, and Meflidor. Each clafs an- 
nually propofes two prize queftions ; and 
in thefe general meetings, the anfwers are 
made public, and the premiums diftributed. 
The united fe<5tions of painting, fculpture, 
O 2 and 



2Q2 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

and architecture elect the pupils who, at 
the expence of the Republic, are to travel 
to Rome, and to refide at the national pa- 
lace, in order to ftudy the fine arts. By 
virtue of a decree of the 3d Brumaire, 4th 
year, the Inftitute fhould likewife ele6l 
twenty young men, to travel in France 
and foreign countries, for the purpofe of 
fiudying rural ceconomy. Six members of 
the Inftitute itfelf, are alfo to travel at the 
.public expence, in order to collect informa- 
tion, and to acquire experience in the 
different fciences. But I do not appre- 
hend that any of thefe fcientific expedi- 
tions have been performed ; war and the 
want of money having probably obftrudted 
thefe very ufeful undertakings. 

It may be prefurned, that the members I 
have named, in the feverai fe6lions of the 
mathematical and phyfical clafles, are the 
moil celebrated and eminent men in thefe 
fcientific departments. The two other 
clafles are alfo compofed of members 
equally refpe6lable ; and, upon the whole, 

it 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 203 

it cannot be denied, that the National In- 
ftitute of France is the firft learned body 
in Europe. 

Among the many pleafures I have de- 
rived from my travels, I account it the 
greatett that I have become perlbnally ac- 
quainted, and frequently converted, with 
io many excellent men, ail eminent in their 

ve purfuits. I may particula 
mention Lagrange, Laplace, Borda, Bofibt, 
Legendre, Delambre, Frcny, Perier, La- 
lande, Mechain, Memer. Jeaurat, Charles^ 
Briflbn, Coulomb, Lefevre-gineau, Four- 
croy, Vauquelin, Darcet, Hauy, Lacepede, 
Cuvier, L'Heretier, and Gregoire. The 
remembrance of tbeie excellent men will 
lys be dear to me, and I ihall ever 
acknowledge their friendfhip 
and civility. As foon as I arrived at Paris, 
I was presented, by Mr. Secretary Drever, 
to Talleyra ord, the minifters 

for foreign . bv whom I was intro- 

duced to Francois Neufcbatej I le mini- 
iter for the interior, and by him again to 
O 3 the 



2Q4 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

the mathematical and phyfical clafs, whole 
prefident at that time was Bofiut, well 
known for his many excellent mathemati- 
cal w T ritings. 

This chearful, good man received me 
with much civility and friendfhip ; he in- 
formed me who were the French commif- 
lioners for weights and meafures, and that 
.thelnflitute had refolved that the foreign 
commiffioners, during their flay in Paris, 
fhoulci be confidered as members of the 
Inftitute, and have free admiffion to every 
particular clafs, and to their general and 
folemn meetings. He then delivered to 
me an oval printed card, infcribed round 
one lide Republique Francaife : in the mid- 
dle Citoyen Bygge, Memhre et Commiffaire de 
Vlnftitut National des Sciences et des Arts : 
and it was fubfcribed Cels, Prefident de la 
Commijfion des Fonds, et de la Bibliotheque. 
On the other fide were printed the words, 
Le Citoyen Bygge, Commiffaire des poids et 
mefures, envoy e de Dannernark. 

The apartments of the Inftitutc are on 

the 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 2Q5 

the firft floor of the ci-devant Louvre y now 
called the Palais National des Sciences et des 
Arts. At the entrance is an elegant anti- 
chamber, through which one enters the 
ball of the Inftitute, which is oblong, 
lighted by windows in each end, and 
hung with tapeftry. Small tables covered 
with green cloth are placed parallel with 
the wails and windows. In the middle of 
one of the longeft fides, is the chair of the 
prefident, and his two' fecretaries are feated 
one on each hand of him. Straight before 
the prefident, in a rectangular fpace, is a 
table where thofe who have any thing to 
read ufually ftand, particularly if they be 
not members of the Inftitute. Within this 
fpace, a table was placed for the foreign 
commiffioners for weights and meafures. 
The length of the hall is fufficient to ad- 
mit twenty-fix perfons to fit at each of the 
longeft fides of the tables, and about ten 
may be feated at each end, befides benches 
for ftrangers adjoining the wall and win- 
dows, On one fide of this great hall, is a 
O 4 fmallcr 



<2g6 the national institute, 

fmaller apartment for the reception of the 
communications of correspondents. The 
library, in three large apartments, contains 
about 16,000 volumes, including the trans- 
actions and memoirs of the former French 
academies, and of foreign fcientific cfta- 
blifhments and literary focieties. The In- 
flitute has alfo an apartment for the fecre- 
tary and his affifrant ; and a large room 
for a collection of machines and models, 
wherein are many pieces of mechanifm 
which' belonged to the old Academy of 
Sciences : and a great number of models of 
all kinds of fhips ; for this room was once 
ufed as a model-room for the ftudents of 
naval architecture. 

Since the eftablifhment of the Inftitute, 
there have been depofited here more than 
twenty models of machines, intended to 
enable people to efcape from the upper {To- 
ries of buildings on fire. Of thefe models 
the defcriptions and drawings of three, 
which were looked upon as the beft, have 
been publiflied, under the title of Rapport 

fur 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 2Q7 

fur les moyens defauver les perfonnes, renfer- 
mies dans les maifons incendiees, pur Prony, 
Couloumb, Peyre, Bougainville, Perier et 
Boullee. 
N In the garden of the Palais Royal, now the 
Palais cFEgalitS, a building had been ere6ied, 
one hundred fathoms in length, and chiefly 
of wood. In 17Q8, this building took fire, 
and during this violent and dangerous con- 
flagration^ fome of thole machines were 
produced and tried ; but were confumed 
along with the building. 

I have been feveral times at the meet- 
ings of the fecond and third clafles ; and 
thofe of the firft, or mathematical and phy- 
fical clafs, I almoft always attended, 
fhall give fome curfory accounts of what 
patted in thofe meetings. The prefident, 
Bofiut, conduded me to the National In- 
ftitute on the 11th Frudiidor, or 28th of 
Auguft. The meeting began, as it gene- 
rally does, at fix o'clock, and continued till 
eight. It was opened, as ufual, by read- 
ing an abftrad of the proceedings in the 
O 5 lafl 



2Q8 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

meeting, which was this evening followed 
by a chemical diflertation on the analyfis 
of faliva, with phyfical conclufions thence 
deduced* Portal, the phyfician, did not 
feem.fatisfied with it, but objected that it 
was impoffible to reafon on effects in the 
human body, from thofe which cafually 
took place in glaffes and retorts. Chaptai 
read a method of producing from vegeta- 
bles, a material which communicates to 
linen and woollen manufactures, a much 
more beautiful and durable yellow than the 
common one. 

Dize, a pupil of Darcet, read a treatife 
on light and caloric, wherein he attempted 
to prove that thefe principles are always 
united, and are only one and the fame ele- 
ment in nature. He had mixed alkalies and 
acids, which by combuftion produced heat, 
and he had very often feen, in the dark, 
fparks emitted by the mixture. Laplace, 
who has extended the limits of feveral 
branches of fcience, and who often fpeaks 
before the Inftitute, with that order and 

clear- 



ANP ITS MEETINGS. 2Qp 

clearnefs of thought which might be ex- 
pelled from fo eminent a man, raifed a 
doubt, whether this light might not be 
electric. He faid he remembered to have 
made a fimilar experiment along with La- 
voifier; and advifed the author to repeat it, 
and for the greater certainty, to infulate the 
veffels. 

Maindon, a lieutenant in the navy, pro- 
duced a new graphical method of ■ alcer- 
taining the obferved diftance between the 
fun and moon, or a fixed ftar and the 
moon, in order to find the refraction and 
parallax, in obfervations for finding the 
longitude at fea. This treatife was de- 
livered toBorda and Levefque of Nantes, 
(known for his excellent book on naviga- 
tion) for them to report their opinion of it 
to their Inftitute. 

The Inftitute in its manner of debating, 
refembles the Englifh Societies. Any in- 
dividual who is inclined to fpeak, afks leave 
of the prefident, to whom he addrefles his 
difcourfe, and every individual fpeaks in 
O 6 the 



300 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE., 

order which his inclination fuggefts. Hence 
thofe debates are carried an with regula- 
rity, decorum, and mutual refpedh 

At the meeting of the l6th Fru&idor, 
or the 2d of September, a programma was 
read by Francois de Neufchateau concern- 
ing the feftival of the 1 8th of Fru&idor. 
Chaptal read a memoir, in which he and 
other chemifts were difpofed to prove, that 
there was an efFential difference between 
acetic and acetous acids : his experiments 
and proofs appeared to me to be very con- 
vincing. Beaume, who is ftill an advocate 
for the phlogiflic fyftem, raifed feveral ob- 
jections. Fourcroy fpoke with his ufual 
elegance and folidity, and fupported Chap- 
taPs proportions. Two petitions from 
Beaume and le Sage were produced, pray- 
ing for an augmentation of their fcanty al- 
lowance. In confequence of the opinion of 
the Inftitnte, thofe petitions were fent to 
the minifter of the interior, and both were 
recommended to his attention. A fimiiar 
petition was read from one who mentioned 

his 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 301 

his having travelled with the Abbe Haute 
Roche, and affifted him by his aftronomical 
obfervations : but as none of the aftrono- 
mers knew this man, or had heard any 
thing of his abilities and labours, his pe- 
tition was not recommended. 

In a meeting of the National Inftitute on 
the Oth of Vendemiare, in the 7th year, or 
27th of September, 1798, the famous bo- 
tanift Juffieu, elected prefident in the 
room of Boffut, who went out in turn, took 
the- chair. Juffieu having a very good 
voice, and a regular and diftinft delivery, 
made an excellent prefident. The meet- 
ings, in the winter months, begin at half 
paft five o'clock, and clofe at half paft 
feven. A letter was firft produced from 
the Minifter for the Interior, incloiing a 
plan for altering and improving the water- 
works at Marly, proposed by Bralle, the 
engineer. Prony and Coulomb having 
already offered plans for a fimi'lar improve- 
ment, the minifler propofed, that they 
fhould be authorized to examine this pro- 
ject 



302 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

jedt of Bralle. Laplace, Borda, and many 
more objected to this propofal, whilft 
others fupported it. It was finally decreed, 
by a majority of voices, to write to the 
minifter, that, if he requefted the opinion 
of the mathematical and phyfical clafs, he 
muft permit them to ele6l their own com- 
mittee ; but, if he only wifhed to have the 
opinions of Prony and Coulomb concern- 
ing this plan, it fhould be fent to them 
accordingly. 

Guiton Morveau read an extract of a 
work fent to the Inftitute, concerning an 
analyfis of Spanifh minerals. Chaptal read 
a very favourable account and report of 
Dize's memoir on the identity of light and 
caloric. Laplace read an account of the 
difruptions of the dykes near Doel in Flan- 
ders, which happened under eircumftance* 
caufing the higheft tides. It was new 
moon, near the equinox, and the moon was r 
at the fame time, in perigee, or neareft the 
earth, and confequently acting with her 
greateft poffible force. 

At 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 303 

At this meeting was exhibited a model 
of a new telegraph, calculated to make 
fignals by numbers. There were three 
perpendicular poles AD, BE, and C G. 
(See fig. 3.) The firft pole may be al- 
lotted to units, the fecond to tens, and the 
third to hundreds ; and to exprefs the 
numbers of each, long pieces of board, a, 
b y c, can be fufpended on every pole re- 
flectively. For example ; when there are 
fix pieces of board on C G, two on B E^ 
and four on A D, the fignal is 624. A 
particular fignal may be made by a flag 
hoifted on BE, to reprefent what AD, BE, 
and CG denote in their decuple order. For 
inftance ; a white flag may fignify the va- 
lue firft fhewn ; a red flag may fhew that 
AD is 1000, BE 10,000, and CG 100,000; 
a blue flag may denote units, tens, and 
hundreds of millions ; and a yellow flag, 
1000 millions, 10,000 millions,and 100,000 
millions, &c. On this principle, a fignal 
fyftem was propofed to be calculated, and a 
protocol of fignals to be formed, w 7 herein 

certain 



304 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

certain numbers were \o denote certain 
fyllables, words, and meanings, according 
to which the fignals of the telegraph were 
to be given and read. 

This method is undoubtedly well con- 
trived ; but it appears to tfie, that the tele- 
graphs now ufed at Paris, with two move- 
able arms, \vhich ftand as different angles, 
in order to fignify different fyllables, are 
more fimple in ftrudture, and expeditious 

in pra6lice # . 

Fourcroy, 

* It may not be amifs to obferve, that a particular 
defcription of a telegraph, illuftrated by wood-cut 
figures, and dated 1684, is to be fccn in an octavo 
volume, entitled,." Philofophical Experiments and 
Obfervations of the late Dr. Robert Hook," and 
publifbed by Mr. Derham, London, \7%6. In that 
contrivance, the intelligence was to be conveyed by 
large wooden characters, fomeof themfignifying whole 
fentences, which were to be fucceffiveiy brought into 
the field of vifion, and drawn back again into a fide-box. 
Though far from being complex, it was not quite lb 
fimple as the French one, with moveable arms, of 
which our author (peaks. A fimilar contrivance is 
mentioned, but not described, in the Century of In- 
ventions, 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 305 

Fourcroy, in the laft place, read an ex- 
cellent account of a chemical analyfis of 
calculi formed in the human bladder, un- 
dertaken by himfelf and Vauquelin. He 
had examined more than three hundred of 
thofe concretions, and found that they all 
confifted of the fame component parts ; 
but that they ought to be reduced into dif- 
ferent claiTes. He mentioned one mon- 

ventions, of the Marquis of Worcefter, who, in a 
petition to Parliament, in the reign of Charles II. 
offered to publi(h the hundred procefTes and machines 
therein enumerated, on condition that money fhouldbc 
granted to extricate him from the difficulties, in which 
he had involved himfelf, by the profecution of ufeful 
difcoveries. Rut the petition does not appear to 
have been attended to. There were doubtlefs other ufes 
for money in that profligate and needy reign ; and 
many or molt of the Marquis's expend ve and admi- 
rable inventions were loll, probably for ever ! The 
■ He am engine, however, which may be plainly traced 
* in his intereiiing little piece, was afterwards re-in~ 
Tented by Thomas Savery, Elq. who was treafurer 
to the Sick and Hurt Office, and who gave the firft 
defcription of it in his book entitled, " The Miners' 
Eriend . ' ' — Translator* 

ftrous 



30S THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

ftrous ftone of the fize of a melon. It is a 
luxury to hear this enlightened mafter treat 
of his fcience, with fo much zeal and pre- 
cilion. 

At the meeting of the Uth Vende- 
miaire, or 2d of O&ober, feveral members 
read various extracts of memoirs commu- 
nicated to the Inftitute ; but none of any- 
particular importance. Levefque read, in 
his own and Borda's name, a report con- 
cerning lieutenant Maindon's graphical 
method of afcertaining the diftance be- 
tween the fun and moon, in order to find 
the parallax. This report began with an 
hiftorical relation of the firft attempts 
made for determining the longitude. The 
whole was written with great ingenuity; 
but a little national partiality ftill prevailed, 
and the very great fervice which Dr. Maf- 
kelyne has rendered in this bufinefs were 
not thought worthy of notice. That able 
aftronomcr, by his Mariner s Guide, firft 
contributed to promote and introduce the 
methods of diftances among the Englith 

navigators ; 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 307 

navigators ; and firft propofed the publi- 
cation of the Nautical almanack, and the 
Requifiie tables to be ufed with it, which 
have afforded infinite affiftance in the cal- 
culation of the Longitude. 

Levefqtie took fotne curfory notice of the 
feveral methods for calculating the Longi- 
tude fuggefted by Lyons, Dunthorne, Maf- 
kelyne, and Borda. There appeared fome 
degree of meannefs in fo often naming and 
commending Borda, who affifted in draw- 
ing up this report ; yet I am not on that 
account difpofed to depreciate, in any re- 
fpedl, the merit of Borda. The circle 
which Maver invented, and Borda firft 
brought into ufe in France, is an excellent 
inftrument. Borda's method of calculat- 
ing the Longitude is very good and expe- 
ditious ; and he has been as active in in- 
troducing the Method of Diuances among 
the French feamen, as Maikelyne was in 
promoting it among the Englifh. About 
four-fifths of this report was taken up by 
the above-mentioned well written hiftorical 

relation ; 



308 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE 



delation; the remainder conflfted of a par- 
ticular account and opinions of Maindon's 
memoir. The theoretic principles and al- 
gebraic proceiTes, on which Maindon's in- 
vention depended, were fhortly noticed, 
and, on the whole, his performance re- 
ceived becoming and well merited com- 
mendation. The Inflitute refolved that 
the report fhould be printed ; but the form 
gave rife to debate. Some wiflhed it to be 
p/inted feparately, and others propofed that 
it fhould be inferted in the fecend Volume 
of the memoirs of the Inliitute ; and this 
laft proportion was carried by a majority of 
voices. This day's trartfa&iotls were clofed 
by Prony, who read, a letter from Delam- 
bre, mentioning that the meafurement of a 
bafe-line near Perpgnan, was very nearly 
completed. 

At the meeting of the 2lft Vcndemiaire, 
or 12th of October, the prefident gave an 
account of feveral French and foreign 
communications received by the Inflitute. 
Dr. Humbold read a memoir on the appli- 
cation 



AND ITS MEETINGS, 30^ 

cation of the principles of modern chemif- 
try to agriculture, and particularly in ex- 
plaining the effect of manure on the growth 
of plants. The prefident read a lift of re- 
ports of committees, which had not been 
returned to the Inftitute, before the cur- 
rent academic year. Some prefent mem- 
bers of committees promifed to bring them 
in with the required notices : others de- 
clared, that the refpedlive authors had 
withdrawn their plans and memoirs, which 
plainly indicated a convi<5tion of the im- 
practicability of their propofals, and the 
inconclufivenefs of their deductions. Some 
memoirs and reports could not be ac- 
counted for ; and it was conjectured that 
they had been carried to Egypt by Monge 
and Rerthollet, who had acted as members 
of committees. 

The National Inftitute had, by circular 
letters, requefted defcriptions of the cli- 
mate, ftate, agriculture, manufactures, na- 
tural productions, &c. of other countries; and 

when 



310 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

when the Inftitute had nothing particular 
to attend to, for the two hours of meeting, 
fome of thofe defcriptions were read. It is 
evident that fuch productions muft have 
very different degrees of merit. This even- 
ing a piece was read, which contained ac- 
counts of Greece, Egypt, and Turkey, by 
Felix, the French conful at Salonica. It 
feemed to poffefs no confiderable merit, 
except its defcribing countries, towards 
which the national attention was, at that 
juncture, particularly directed. After it 
was read, Defleflarts, the phyfician, who 
either had not heard, or pretended not 
to know, the author's name, enquired who 
had written that memoir. The prefident 
anfwering it was Felix the conful, Deflef- 
farts excited a general laugh, by rejoining, 
in his ufual facetious manner, " Felix qui 
fcripjit, inftilx qui aadivit" 

Among the tranfa£tions of the meeting 
on the 11th Nivofe, 7th year, or 3lft of 
December, 1798, I fhall only mention the 

very 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 311 

very remarkable experiments made on arti- 
ficial cold by Fourcroy and Vauquelin. 
Thefe experiments, which were formerly 
made on a fmall fcale, by Lowitz at Peterf- 
burgh, have not only been repeated, but 
very confiderably extended, at Paris. 
Within a large tub was placed a fmaller 
one, and the interval between them was 
filled with a mixture of fnow and fait, 
which produced a remarkable degree of 
cold. Within the fecond was placed a 
third, and the interval between the fecond 
and third was filled with a compofition 
confifting of eight parts of muriate of lime, 
and fix parts of fnow. In the inner tub 
was very foon produced an intenfe degree 
of cold, which funk the common thermo- 
meter of Reaumer to 32° below zero. la 
order to keep out the external warm air, 
the whole apparatus was covered with a 
glafs cafe. By thefe interefting experi- 
ments, 20lb. of mercury was made to freeze 
in thirty feconds into a folid mafs, which 

affumed 



312 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

affumed a chryftallized form.* Spirits of 
wine, the ftrongeft vinegar, nitric acid, pure 
ammonia, and aether, froze in like manner. 
A finger applied to this mixture or folu- 
tion, in four feconds loft all fenfe of feel- 
ing, became frozen, and as white as paper, 
with a very acute fenfation, refembling a 
violent pinch. Moft liquors froze, in a 
platina crucible, in thirty feconds ; but, in a 
crucible of porcelain or clay, they required 
about two minutes, which is eafily ac- 
counted for, from metals being more ca- 
pable of conducting heat than clay. 

The atmofpheric cold, when thofe expe- 
riments were performed, was 7° by the cen- 
tigrade thermometer, or 5, 6° of Reaumur's. 
Decimals being quite fafhionable in France, 
thermometers are ufed, in which the dif- 



we 



* In the PhilofopTiical Magazine, Vol. III. 
have an account of 561b. of mercury having been 
frozen in London, the fame winter, by Meffrs. Allan 
and Pepys, who produced the artificial cold by mix- 
ing muriate of lime with dry, uncompreiTed fnow. — 

*Iranflator. 

tance 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 313 

tance between the freezing and boiling 
points, is divided into J00 degrees, inftead 
of Reaumur's divifion into 80 degrees. 
The Swedes have long ufed this divifion, 
under the name of Celfius's, or Chriftier- 
nin's, thermometer. 

On the fame evening, Delambre and 
Mechain related to the Inftitute an account 
of their obfervations on the cold this win- 
ter, which has been very fevere ^t Paris, 
Hating, that on the 5th, 6th, and 7th Ni- 
vofe, the centigrade thermometer flood at 
16, 2°, and Reaumur's at 13°. The froft 
firfl commenced in December, 179S; and, 
except a few r days thaw, continued till 
the beginning of February, 1799* For 
fome days in December and January, the 
thermometer flood at 13°, fnow falling 
now and then, but feldom exceeding the 
depth of fix inches, and the river Seine was 
frozen over. Indeed, fevere weather is the 
more fenfibly felt in fouthern countries ; 
becaufe the Conftrudlion of the houfes and 
P the 



314 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

the apartments is not calculated to ex- 
clude the cold. 

I have already obferved, that when an 
author, whether French or foreign, fends 
any publication to the Inftitute, the pre- 
sident nominates a member of abilities in 
the fcience treated of, to felecl extracts 
from the work, and to read them at one of 
their meetings ;♦ a practice which has the 
advantage of making every member of the 
Inftitute acquainted with the contents an#t 
merits of the book, Thefe reviews are al- 
ways well written and impartial, conveying 
accurate ideas of the contents of every 
work- — not like thofe critiques in fome 
other countries, which may rather be called 
reviews of authors and individuals, than of 
their writings ; and which, being compofed 
with a view to introduce the thoughts and 
opinions of the cenfors, inftead of thofe of 
the authors, are more of a didactic than a 
critical nature. 

Many things are fent from the minifters 

for 



AXD ITS MEETINGS. 315 

for the opinion of the Inftitute. Private 
individuals, in like manner, fend in me- 
moirs, drawings, or models of machines, 
plans of various practical works, &c. in- 
order either to make them known, or to 
obtain fome other advantage. The clafs, 
to which the matters communicated are 
fubmitted, always nominates a committee 
to examine them, whofe reports are read, 
and the communications are approved, re- 
jected, or modified. It is natural to fup- 
pofe that many projects are fent in, which 
are neither important nor ufeful : and I 

: often pitied the members of the In- 
re, in being obliged to ipend much of 

ir time on bufineis of this kind. 
. Having thus given an account of fome 
of the particular meetings of the National 
In (lit ate, or more properly of the mathema- 
tical and phyfical clafles, which take place 
every firft and fixth days of the decade, I 
ftiall defcribc two of their public or folemn 
meetings. Thefe meetings were not held 
P 2 in 



3J5 the national institute, 

in the fame room as their particular aflem- 
blies, but in another much more extenfive 
and beautiful, and which formerly belonged 
to the academy of fciences. Both its 
longer fides are adorned by two beautiful 
colonnades ; and the ceiling is finely 
painted and decorated. Between the co- 
lumns are fourteen beautiful marble fta- 
tues (feven on each fide) of the great eft 
and mod celebrated men whom France has 
produced; namely, Conde, Tourville, Def- 
cartes, Bayard, Sully, Turenne, Daguef- 
ieau, Luxembourg, L'Hopital, BofTuet, Du~ 
quefne, Catinat, Vauban, and Fenelon. At 
the ends, are two fitting figures of Pafcal 
and Rollin. In the antichamber, are the 
ftatues of Moliere, Racine, Corneille, La- 
fontaine, and Montefquieu. The hall is 
extremely well lighted, by chandeliers and 
iilver lamps. The floor is covered with a 
carpet ; tables are placed parallel to the 
four walls of the hall, at which the mem- 
bers of the Institute took their places. 

There 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 31? 

There are particular places for the Direc- 
tory, the miniilers of the republic and fo- 
reign ambafladors. 

The prefident of the Inftitute is feated at 
the uppefmoft end of the hall ; and in the 
middle, and rather on one fide of him, is a 
tribune, from which whatever is propofed is 
received by the prefident, who does not 
leave his chair. The place allotted for 
members is furrounded by a rail, between 
which and the walls there is round the 
whole hall a row of benches, where the 
fpedktors (among whom were many la- 
dies) took their feats, 

The firft public quarterly meeting, at 
which I was prefent, was on the 15th of 
Vendemiaire in the 7th year, or the Oth of 
October, 17Q8. Juffieu, the prefident, 
opened the meeting in a fnort fpeech, 
wherein he fignified that, in the firft place, 
an account of the labours of the National 
Inftitute for the latt three months, would be 
given, by the fecretaries of the different 
clafies. Lafflis, after an extemporaneous 
P 3 preamble, 



318 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

preamble, read a well written ahftraft of 
the labours and memoirs of the phyfical 
clafs ; Lefevre-gineau ftated thofe of the 
mathematical ; Daunon thofe of the moral 
and political clafies ; and laftly, Andrienx 
read abftradls of memoirs relating to the 
fine arts. In particular, he gave an account 
of a diflertation by the famous Dupuis, 
who wrote the Origine des Cuhes, and 
many -other well known works, in which 
the author endeavoured to prove that De- 
nis, the ci-devant tutelar faint of Frgnce, 
was no other than Bacchus. As this nuift 
be a very acceptable fentiment to every 
Frenchman who is fond of wine, it was re- 
ceived with a general plaudit. 

The prefident then delivered a fhort 
ipeech, on the progrefs which the arts muft 
neceflarily make among a people, where 
they are cultivated, eitecmed, and re- 
warded, and then crowned with green 
wreaths, the following pupils who have re- 
ceived premiums in the fine arts: Harriet 
and Le Roi for a painting representing tbe 

combat 



ASMS ITS MEETINGS; 3*9 

combat of the Horatii and Curiatii ; La- 
v-ille for a baflb relievo of Marcellus, the 
Roman general,- who, after the facking 
Syracufe, permitted his foldiers to carry 
fpecimens of the arts to Rome ; and Cie- 
mence and Pompon for drawings in archi- 
tecture, and plans of an exchange, Thefe 
induftrious young artifts, by obtaining the 
firit premiums, have acquired the right of 
being fent to Rome, whenever circum- 
ftances will permit, and there profecuting 
their ftudies at the expence of the re- 
public. 

In the next place, Camus delivered an 
extemporaneous difcourfe, and gave an 
account of other great and important la- 
bours in which the National Inftitute were 
engaged. Under the monarchical govern- 
ment, the- Academies of Sciences and Lite- 
rature had begun different jvorks of import- 
ance to mankind, and which on that account 
would refle£t honour on the nation. They 
intended to publifh, 1. The whole of the 
P 4 French 



32G THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

French hiflorical writings ; 2. French and 
foreign diplomatic papers ; 3. A catalogue 
of the manufcripts in the National Library ; 
4. Defcriptions of arts and m an ufa£t tires. 
Thefe defigns were interrupted by the re- 
volution ; but every friend to fcience and 
literature mi\ft hear with pleafure, that 
thefe important labours are to be again 
undertaken, and that the prefent govern- 
ment will grant the fupplies neceftary for 
that purpofe. 

The National Inftitute have nominated 
committees, who are to proceed on the 
plan of thofe, who, under the former go- 
vernment, laboured on collections and edi- 
tions of the old French hiflorical writings, 
fuch as Brial and De Clement, the famous 
author of u U Art de verifier les Dales." 
Thefe committees are alfo to confer with 
Dutheil and Brequigny, concerning a diplo- 
matic collection. Camus allured the In- 
fHtute, that a volume of the old hiflorical 
writings, collected by Brial and Druons, 

and 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 321 

and another of diplomatic papers, collected 
and published by Dutheil, would be fent |q* 
the prefs in about a month. 

The National Inftitute intends publifh- 
inga collection of crufade hiftories, which 
are important monuments of the hittory of 
the eaftern and weftern countries, from the 
eleventh to the fourteenth century. Hi- 
therto the hiftories of the crufades have 
been related to us only by weftern authors. 
But it is equally important for us to know 
the accounts of the orientals, and to fee 
what they thought of the arrival, ftay, cuf- 
toms, and victories of the Europeans, with 
other particulars refpeciing thofe invaders. 
Camus then, proceeded to an account of* 
the manufcripts in the National Library^ 
a work which was begun by the Academy 
of Sciences, in the year 1785. Their de- 
fign was to give moderate abftra£ts of the 
lefs important manufcripts, but complete 
tranflations of the moffc valuable, and, ia 
fome cafes, the manufcripts themfelves in 
their original languages. 

P 5 The 



322 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

The Academy had appointed eight com- 
irnffioners,of whom three undertook to exa- 
mine the Oriental manufcripts ; two, thofe 
in Greek and Latin ; and three, thofe of the 
middle ages. Thofe commiffioners had 
publifbed four volumes of " Notices des 
Manufcripts de la Bibliothtque du Rot." This 
work, fo aufpicioufly begun, is now car- 
ried on with all poflible zeal, and the bu- 
finefs appears to be of the greater concern, 
as the number of manufcripts in the Na- 
tional Library is confiderably augmented 
by others brought hither from Italy, Fland- 
ers, and Germany, and from the libraries 
of emigrants, and abolifhed cloifters. The 
Inflitute has particularly in view fuch ma- 
nufcripts as concern the fciences, arts, 
hiftory, and geography. The Arabian and 
Perfian manufcripts which relate to agro- 
nomy, geography, and hiftory, are to be 
lirft publifbed. The Arabians have un- 
doubtedly a number of important and ufeful 
aflrono-mical obfervations, the comparifon 
of which with modern aftronomy will be a 

great 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 323 

great acquiiition. Nothing is wanting but 
a good tranfiator, who can comprehend the 
true meaning ; it being a great difadvan- 
tage if the orientalift be not an aftronomer^ 
or if the aftronomer be not a complete ori- 
entalift. Camus reported, that consider- 
able progrefs had been made in the im- 
preffion of the firft volume of the new col- 
lection of manufcripts, being the fifth of 
the whole collection. It contains an ac- 
count of Oriental* Greek, Latin, and 
French manufcripts, concerning, natural 
and civil hiftory, morals, and the arts ; and 
will afford considerable knowledge refpcdl- 
ing the fciencesof the twelfth, thirteenth, 
and fourteenth centuries. Specimens of 
the original manufcripts, in their refpedtive 
characters, are to be printed in this volume^ 
which. will make it an important acqui- 
iition to palaeography. 

Camus next proceeded to give an ac- 
count of the arts and manufactures, which 
the National Tnftitute had cultivated in 
obedience to an order of government, of; 

P,S ' the. 



324 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

the 15th of Germinal, fecond year. From 
the printed programma, which is diftri- 
buted at the public meetings, it appears, 
that the former Academy of Sciences had 
either written, or extracted from the writ- 
ings of others, eighty-feven memoirs on 
arts and manufactures : whereas thofe 
which the National Inftitute have either 
caufed to be written on the fame fubje&s 
by its members, or have received from 
others, amount to no fewer than two hun- 
dred and ninety-feven, which are alpha- 
betically arranged. This circumflance is 
a proof of the induftry and attention with 
which technology has been purfued by the 
Inftitute. xlmong the principal memoirs 
there are fome on fubjedls altogether new, 
fuch, for example, as thofe on aeroftatics, 
or the method of conftrudting and manag- 
ing air balloons ; on the art of condu&ing 
and maintaining fire ; on the art of erect- 
ing conductors of lightning; oatachygra- 
phy, or a fecret method of writing by figns 
<?f abbreviation ; and on telegraphy, or the 

con- 



AND ITS MEETINGS, 325 

conftru&ion of telegraphs, and the fig- 
rrals which accompany them. I might 
mention various other articles, not imme- 
diately reducible to the head of arts and 
manufactures, fuch as the projection of 
maps and charts, furveying and planning, 
pharmacy, and the method of making ana- 
tomical preparations. In conclufion, Ca- 
mus mentioned the admeafurement of the 
arc of the meridian, through the whole 
extent of France, from Barcelona to Dun- 
kirk, and the weights and meafures found- 
ed on that admeafurement by the com- 
miflioners of the Inftitute, in conjunction 
with the foreign commiffioners, who had 
come to Paris for that purpofe. 

Extracts from the memoirs, at the par- 
ticular meetings, prefented to the Inftitute, 
during the laft fix months, were then read 
by feveral members. It is natural to fup- 
pofe, that they felected fuch pieces as ap- 
peared to be themoft important and intereft- 
ing. Cuvier read a defcription of portions 
of ikeletons found in quarries, in the coun- 
try 



326 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

try about Paris, and particularly at Mont- 
martre. It fo happened,, that he had col- 
lected fuch a number of bones, as to be 
able to compofe the complete fkeleton of 
an animal. He believed that it formed a 
new fpecies, which ought to be placed be- 
tween the .rhinoceros and the camel; but 
this is the only animal, known at pre- 
fent, which belongs to it. Dr. DefTartz 
fhcwed that the fmall-pox, which then ge- 
nerally prevailed, .would become lefs fatal, 
by preparing the children with jalap and 
certain mercurials. 

Bougainville, the celebrated mathemati- 
cian and circumnavigator, read an hiftori- 
cal detail of ancient and modern voyages 
towards the north pole. He made a com- 
panion between the fituation of failors in a 
naval engagement, and on a voyage of ■dis- 
covery. He touched on the voyage of La 
Peroufe, and the naval engagement on the 
cpafi of Egypt, with much elegance and 
patriotic zeal. 1 be whole of his memoir 
was fo exceedingly engaging, that I cannot 

do 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 327 

do icfs than prefent the reader with the fol- 
lowing Quotation. - 

M In modern time?, the defire of difco- 
vering new countries has confiderably in- 
creafed. The immortal Cook has contri- 
buted more to nautical geography than al! 
his predeceffors, in this purfuit ; and thofe 
who follow him every where find inftruc- 
live remains of his fteady and exael courfe. 
■Cook and Magellan ! Ah, why fhould the 
Umc fate envy you both, and deprive you 
of living to receive the gratitude and ef- 
teern of vour fellow citizens ! 

66 On this occafion, I iiiuft be permitted 
to draw a comparifon between the fituation 
of a failor in a fca-fight, and that in which 
he is placed when failing in queft of new 
difcoverics. In a fea engagement, the ma- 
riner is Voufed to aclion, and encouraged 
by many circumftances, by the neceflary 
preparations, by the example of others, and 
by multitudes of fpectators ; and one day 
of impending danger is fucccecled by hun- 
dreds of others which, through the flatter- 
ing 



328 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

ing medium of felf-love, afford a pleanng 
recollection of paft dangers. Naval en- 
gagements happen in the mid ft of friends 
and acquaintances, and wreaths of laurel 
crown the urns, in which the afhcs of the 
dead are pioufly depofited. The fituation 
of a failor who plows the main for new 
difcoveries is totally different: in the midft 
of conflicting elements, he has to contend 
perpetually with the raoft ferious dangers. 
lie muft at every inftant, for days, and 
months, and years, potiefs himfelf with cool 
and unfhaken reiolution : and he is always 
fen able that, after a long feries even of 
fucceisful efforts, it may happen, that the 
particulars of his labours may be as little 
known as the track which his iliip de- 
scribed in the ocean. Oh, that we knew 
whither to direct our courfe in qucft of the 
famous La Pcroufe ! 

Kudus in igtioia^ Palinure, jacebis arena ! 

u But I cannot clofe this digreffion, on 

the comparative fituations of mariners 

without 



AND ITS MEETINGS. S2Q 

without publicly expreffing my eiteern for 
your naval combatants, fome of whom per- 
formed with me their firft expedition ! 9 Tis 
true, they have had to contend againft an 
infulting fuperiority, and an inconceivable 
difadvaptage of fituation. By this proof, 
however, of their heroifm and valour, they 
have acquitted themfelves of their duty to 
their country, and they (hall be avenged. 
They fell fighting, and by thus giving to 
their enemies a contefted victory, though 
not till they had been mortally wounded, 
they have given us reafon to believe that 
they only wanted a prolongation of life to 
have claimed the victory themfelves/' 

Thefe fentiments are all juftly conceived, 
and well exprefled. Bougainville's pre- 
lection was often interrupted and finally 
followed by general, loud and ardent plau- 
dits, which were much more refpectful to 
him than the trifling marks of approbation, 
often dictated by mere civility, which were 
given to the other Speakers. 

The learned Langles read a memoir, on 

the 



330 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

the Arabian language and literature. It is 
known that the Arabians were men of fci- 
ence and zealous cultivators of the mathe- 
matics, particularly of aftronomy, when all 
fcience was banifhcd from Europe, and their 
literature is interefting and important. I 
have to exprefs my concern that Langle's 
voice was fo low and indiftindt, that a great 
part of bis fpeecb could not be under- 
ilood. 

Lacepede read a memoir on the compa- 
rative degrees of induftry and fagacity ob- 
fervable in birds. He diftinguifhed them 
into eight .clafles, according to the fagacity 
indicated by the coafiriwSlipn of their nefts, 
which was the criterion he adapted, and he 
named the birds, which he fuppofed fhotild 
be referred to each of thofe clafles. Lace- 
pede, with the advantage of an excellent 
voice, poffefles mush eloquence, propriety, 
and dignity, and his memoir was received 
with general approbation and clapping of 
hands. 

Dauiiou read a programma, written by 

Roederer^ 



AND ITS Mr:F.TING3. 33X 

Roedcrer, refpecting the queftion propofed 
by the clafs of moral and political Science : 
u What are the moft proper principles on 
which the morals of a people can be eftab- 
Kfhed f*> Offixteen answers given to this 
queftion the year before, not one obtained 
the premium. The fame queftion was re- 
peated, with new conditions and limita- 
tions, in order to give the authors an idea 
of the necefiary reply, in which all the 
former candidates had failed. 

The celebrated Fourcroy read an extract 
of a memoir on the analyfis of human cal- 
culi, together with an account of Tome ex- 
periments made to folve them, after being 
extracted out of the bladder. The me- 
moir was excellent, and admirably deli- 
vered. 

Bitsube was to have read an account 
of the opinions of the philosophers of the 
ancient republics, but was . :ted by 

want of time, added to 1 sat age and 

low voice. 

Ducis delivered a beauu.Ui poem, abound- 
ing 



332 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

Ing with enthufiaitic encomiums on 
fine arts, and the admirable performances 
of the French painters, Taillaflbn, Vincent, 
Eegnault, Vien, and David; and with this 
piece, concluded this truly great md inte- 
refting meeting, 

I was alfo prefent at another general 
meeting on the 15th of Nivofe, 7th year, 
or the 4th of January, 1 7 gg. Lainee then 
read an account of the labours of the mo- 
ral and political clafs, and Andrieux of the 
clafs of literature, and the fine arts. After 
mentioning the conqueft of Naples hd 
concluded with cxprefFing a wifh that it 
might not be long before the mufeums of 
Portici fhould be brought to Paris. Vil- 
lars dated the reafons why the fame clafs 
again propofed the prize cflay : M On the 
means of caufing the Latin and Greek lan- 
guages to be more affiduoufly cultivated hi 
France." 

Lcfevre-gineau read a report, of the ma- 
thematical, and LafFus of the phyfica!,. la- 
bours of the clafs devoted to thole purfuils, 

They 



AND ITS -MEETINGS. 333 

They alfo gave an account of the National 
Inftitute at Cairo/ and of their meetings 
and tranfadlionSj according to the notices 
which had been communicated to the Na- 
tional Inftitute at Paris. The tranfactions 
of the phyfical clafs were particularly inte- 
refting. 

L'Heritier, who is acquainted with, and 
on many accounts highly efteems, the in- 
duftrious VViborg, prefented a defcription 
of two new genera of plants, namely, the 
Bruguiera, and the parafitical plant, Rhizo- 
dendrum. The firft was difcovered at Ma- 
dagafcarby Bruguiere. Michaut has feen a 
tree named the Roblnia vifcofa, from North 
America, which has on its branches, when 
in vegetation, a black and ftrongly gluti- 
nous fubftance. Vauquelin has examined 
it, and found it altogether different from 
every vegetable production hitherto known ; 
but it nevertheless approaches nearer to 
refin than to any other fubftance. Cels 
and Ventenat have (hewn, that this tree 
belongs to a genus, defcribed by Juffieit 

and 



334 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

and Lamarck. Desfontaines has fent to 
the Inflitute a complete Flora of Mount 
Atlas. Broufibnnet, who has long refided 
in Africa, has particularly defcribed the 
procefles ufed at Fez and Tetuan, in pre- 
paring and dying Turkey leather, and has 
given an account of the plants employed 
for that purpofe. Lamarck has formed a 
claffification of fhells, after a new iyftera 
and chara&ers, Linnaeus had only fixty 
genera ; but Lamarck has extended them 
to one hundred and feventeen, by which 
he fuppofes the claffification of fhells will 
be more certain and better determined 
than formerly. Fourcroy and Vauquelin,- 
by fome experiments on urine, have difco- 
vered a particular animal fubftance which 
gives it the property of very readily form- 
ing ammonia; yet they look upon their 
inveftigation of the properties of that fluid, 
as very far from being complete. 

I now proceed to the memoirs which 
were read at this folemn meeting. Pallifot 
Beauvois . read a memoir concerning fer- 

pents 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 335 

pents in general, and rnordaceous ones in 
particular. That gentleman has had nine 
fuch ferpents in his hand, without receiv- 
ing the leaft injury ; and he aftured us that 
they bite animals only when trodden upon. 

Peyre, the architect, fhewsd the danger' 
of fire to which the National Library was 
expofed, from its vicinity to the great 
French oper^ the National Treafury, and 
many .private houfes in Rue de -la Loi, 
formerly Richelieu, and other adjoining 
ftreets. He admitted that every .poffible 
precaution had been taken; but that the 
rnoft proper and certain method would be, to 
remove, if poffible, this incalculable trea.-? 
fure of literature to a building fitaated in 
an open and free fpace. Ducis read a 
poetical epiftle, (hewing that The Horrible 
and The Graceful -fhould never be united 
the fine arts. 

Buache, the geographer^ defcribed cer- 
tain difcoveries which ftill remain to be 
made in the ocean. He had taken extra&s 
from all the old voyages hitherto publifhed 

and 



336 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

and known ; and he had compared the old 
one? w >fe of more modern date^ in 

whi odes and longitudes are ac- 

cm !, as they are in the voy- 

age- Carteret, Cook, Bou- 

gainville, Kcrgmlea, and La Peroufe. As 
the fituaiions of the coafts, countries, and 
iflands, defcribed in the old voyages, do 
not agree with the modern ones, Buache 
has been led to fuppofe that they are flill 
to be difcovered. Bat againfi: this opinion 
feveral objections may be made. 

Teffier, the phyfician, read a memoir 
wherein he attempted to determine the va- 
rious durations of pregnancy in certain 
animals ; for example, in the bitch, the 
mare, and the cow. He was of opinion, 
that the pregnancy of women could not 
continue longer than ten months ; a cir- 
cumftance which deferves the attention 
both of the phyiician and the legifiator. 

Colin d'Harville clofed the meeting with 
a very elegant poem on the travels of Mel- 
pomene and Thalia, or the hiftory of tra- 
gedy 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 337 

gedy and comedy, among the Greeks, Ro- 
mans, and French, from the earlieft times. 
The only Englifhmen he noticed were 
Shakefpeare and Addifon ; but on the 
German, Spanifh, and Italian dramatic 
writers, he was totally filent. The ftile of 
his firft canto, the fubjedt of which was 
tragedy, was marked with appropriate gran- 
deur and dignity, and that of the fecond 
on comedy, with fuitable vivacity and eafe. 
Both were delivered with mafterly art, and 
received, efpecially by the ladies, with 
great approbation. 

I have already mentioned, that the clafs 
of literature and the fine arts had propofed 
for the eighth year the following fubje6i : 
€C To point out the means of caufing the 
Latin and Greek languages to be culti- 
vated in France, more zcaloufly than they 
are at prefent." The premium offered, is 
a medal of eight he&ograms, or about 
twenty ounces, of gold. The fame clafs 
have alfo propofed a premium, of the fame 
value, for folving this queftion : " To in- 
Q quire, 



338 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

quire, To what degree, the French lan- 
guage has acquired perfpicuity and ele- 
gance, and loft its natural fimplicity and 
energy, from the time of Amyot to the pre- 
fentday?" 

The mathematical clafs have fele£ted 
the important and very difficult problem 
df the comet of 1770, which may be con- 
fidered as an aftrondmical enigma. The 
Academy of Sconces, in the year 1794, 
offered a premium for the calculation of 
this comet, and the aftronomers have at- 
tempted to bring their obfervations to cor- 
refpond with a parabolic curve. 

Profperin and Pingre have been particu- 
larly engaged on this fubje£t, which has 
alfo been profecuted by Du Sejour. But 
they could not bring a parabolic curve to 
agree with the obfervations nearer than 
within a degree, which is by far too wide 
of the truth. Lexell found that the ob- 
fervations could be represented with tole- 
rable exadhiefs by an ellipfis, which the 
comet might be fuppofed to defcribe in 

five 



ANU ITS MEETINGS. 33(J 

years and a half. Bat in this cafe, the 
fame comet muft have been often feen ; 
yet it has not appeared either before or 
fince 1770, In order to account for this 
remarkable phenomenon of our fyftem, the 
National Inftitute have propofed to aftro- 
nomers, 1. To examine all the ohfervations 
which can be found refpe&ing the comet 
of 1770. 2. To enquire minutely whether 
or not thofe oblervations can be reduced 
to a parabola, or any other curve, whofe 
ordi nates are referable to an immoveable 
axis. 3. If it be found that this is poffible^ 
then to determine the properties of the 
curve, which correfponds the neareft to 
the observations. Solutions muft be fent 
in before the 15th Mefficfor, eighth year,. 
or the 3d of July, 1S0O. The premium is 
a kilogram, or fomething more than 2lb. 
of gold. But the queftion is fo very diffi- 
cult, will require fo much penetration and 
iabour,and involves fuch an incredible nunir 
ber of calculations, that, upon the whole,, 
it deferves a greater premium ; fuppofe from 



340 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

fix to feven hundred dollars, or from one 
hundred and fifty to one hundred and fe- 
venty-five pounds fterling.* 

The firft volume, of the Memoirs of the 
National Inftitute was published on the lit 
Vendemiaire, 7th year, or the 21 ft of Sep- 
tember 1798, and printed by Baudoin, un- 
der the title of •"' Memoires de TInJIUut Na~> 

* Certainly the laft would be a very moderate, not 
to fay an inadequate, reward for the mere time and trcu- 
lie, which the folution of fuch a problem would re- 
quire; even confidering the fuperior value of money 
in France, and the fmalJ price of fcientijic labour in 
this country. 1 fpeak from fome experience, having 
affifled my worthy friend, the truly learned and inge- 
nious Mr. W. Cruickfhank, formerly furgeon of the 
Naval Hofpital, Barbadoes, now of the Artillery Hof- 
pital, Woolwich, in obferving the path, and deter- 
mining the orbit, of a comet, which appeared in the 
weftern hemifphere, in the year 1784. Though then 
in .a climate and in fituations very unfavourable to 
fuch purfuits, we brought our calculations and con- 
flruclions to fuch fatisfaftory refults, that we had 
thoughts of offering them for publication in the Phi- 
lofophica-1 TVanfaclions. But, after our return to 
this country, in 17S6 we found that our defign had 
been anticipated, by an ingenious Frenchman, in the 
ConnoiJJance cfcs Temfs% Tray/later* 



AXV ITS MEETINGS. &4p 

Uonal des Sciences et Arts. Sciences Mathe- 
viatiques et Phyftques, 1 torn. — Sciences Mo- 
rales et Politiques, J torn. — Liiterature et 
Beaux Arts, 1 torn" In all, three quarto 
volumes, with twenty-four plates; price oiv 
common paper, thirty-nine francs, on ftrong 
paper, fixty francs, and on vellum paper, 
.feventy-two francs. 

It is lingular that Boudoin refufes to fell 
the memoirs of each clafs feparately ; but 
obliges the purchafers to take all the three 
volumes. I could not perfuade Him. that 
he lofL infteacT of gaining, by this method, 
The volumes of the mathematical and phy- 
fical clafles are chiefly confined to-nacural 
hiftory, chemiftry, and medicine. There 
are only two mathematical memoirs, one 
by Laplace, and the other by Lalande ; for: 
the mathematical members of the National 
Inftitute publifh their works themfelves. 
Thus Lagrange has lately given, the workL 
two important works, namely, his u "Theorie 
ties Fonffions Amhtiques" '.and f * BefoJution' 
des Equations Numgriques ;" nor is it long; 
iince Laplace publifned, (( Expp/Ition dw 
Q-3 Syjieme 



342 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

Syjteme du Monde:' This work appears'*© 
be an introdu&ion to bis Traite de MSchk- 
nlque Celefte> in two volumes, which con- 
tains the difcoveries and opinions of this 
great mathematician, in the theoretic and 
higher parts of aftronomy. 

Newton laid the true foundation * of 

our 

* Newton not only " laid the foundation," but fo 
greatly advanced the noble fuperftruelure, as to have 
ieft his fuccefTers little more to do than to follow his 
rules, t! After all the cultivation of dynamics by 
the commentators and followers of Newton," fays one 
of the ableft of them, u after the Phoronomia of Her- 
mann, the Mechanic** of Euler, the Dynamique of 
D'Alembert, and the Mechanique Analytique of De la 
Grange, which are undoubtedly woiks of tranfcendant 
merit and utility, the Princifia of Newton frill remain 
the mofl pleaflng, perfpicuous, and elegant fpecimen 
of the application of mathematics to the fcience of 
Univerfal Mechanics, or what we call Dynamics " En- 
cycl. Britann. SuppJ. article Dynamics, § 103. .If 
this article came, as I believe it did, from the pen to 
which the Encyclopaedia Britannica owes many of its 
befl fcientific articles, the weight of the opinion juft 
cited, will be mucfy encreafed ; for the gentleman al- 
luded to paffed many years on the continent, in habits 
of intim; cy with mathematicians and ptirlofbpbers of 
the iirft order, and is not altogether free from a 

bias 



AND ITS MEETINGS* 34^ 

our knowledge concerning the order and 
difpofition of our fyftem, and the motion 
of the planets in their refpe&ive orbits. 
Laplace has finifhcd this beautiful fabric 
and, with infinite fagacity, has, by help of 
the higher analyfis, in which he is fo diftin- 
guifhed a mafter, clearly proved, that all 
the motions and phenomena in the pla- 
netary fyftem can be explained, deter- 
mined, and calculated by the principle of 
univerfal gravitation, which was not before, 
in every refpe6i, completely effected. 

Laplace is at prefent engaged on the 
mechanifm of the planetary fyftem, and I 
have feen about half of the firft part al- 
ready in print. Dr. Burchardt, of Gotha, 
who ftudied aftronomy under Lalande, 
translates every fheet, as faft as it is printed, 
into German ; fo that the German transla- 
tion will appear at the fame time with the 
French original. 

bias in their favour. Such at leaft was the general 
opinion, when I had the happinefs to attend his ad- 
mirable ledures in Edinburgh, Tranjlaur. 

■ Boflut, 



344 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

BofTut, already well known for bis me- 
chanics, ftatics, hydrodynamics, &c. has 
lately published; fe Traite de Calcul diffe- 
rentiely et de Calcul integral, en 2 torn. Svo.. 

Prony has jiift publiflied in 4to. " Expo- 
fit ion d?une Method e pour conftruire les Equa- 
tions indeterminees, qui fe rapport ent aux Sec- 
tions coniques" He is befides occupied on 
a third volume of his Very refpetTtable work, 
" Nouvelle Architecture Hydrauliquef and 
on the elements of the mechanical fciences. 
Legend re, who formerly wrote " Elemens 
de Geomeirie ;, Memoire fur hs tranfcend- 
antes elliptiques ; and Dffertation fur urih 
Quefiion de Baliftique, couronne par T Acade- 
mic de Berlin" has lately publiflied an ex- 
cellent work in quarto, intitled, •■' Effaifur 
la Theorie des Nombres. 

Lalande is engaged on a complete Bib- 
hographie Aftro7iornique. Befide the pro- 
found and enlarged views of this gentle- 
man in aftronomy and its kindred lciences, 
he is a great literary character. His exr 
tcnfive reading and correspondence have 
furnifhed him with details from every 

country • 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 343 

country ; fo that a complete account of 
the aftronomical writers and literature, of 
all nations, may be expected from his pen. 
I have communicated to him all that I 
could collect on this fubjeft in Denmark. 

Meffier is continually occupied in clif- 
covering comets, and calculating their 
paths. Delambre and Mechain have mea- 
sured nine degrees and a half of the meri- 
dian of the obfervatory of Paris, and which 
ftretches quite through France, from Bar* 
celona to Dunkirk. Delambre has been 
employed on an important work, which he 
laid before the Commiffion for weights and 
meafures, under the title of " Methodes ana- 
Jytiques pour la Determination cTnn Arc du 
Meridien" and which is now in the prefs. 

Borda, though aged, infirm, and con- 
sumptive, ftill labours as much as his health 
will permit. He is now engaged on a 
manual of tables of logarithmic fines, after 
the new centefima! divifion. I faw at his 
houfe, feveral printed theets of thofe tables ; 
but he complained that, on account of the 
want of good and uniform paper in France, 

the. 



346 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

the impreffion proceeds but flowly. The 
fines and tangents are to be found in the 
ilcreotypic edition of Callet's tables (Paris,. 
17Q5) but not divided into centefimal mi- 
nutes. Borda's edition will be much more 
complete, and at the fame time more ufe- 
ful. He has alfo difcovered, this winter, 
fome improvements, and new conftrudtions 
of the barometer and dipping compafs. 
Both thefe instruments are to be executed 
by that able maker LeNoir. The principal 
improvement in thedipping needle is, that its 
axis turns in a glafe cylinder or tube. I had 
formed the fame idea many years ago, and 
have fince had a compafs fo cpnftrudted, 
which I have defcribed in the Memoirs of 
the Copenhagen Academy of Sciences, 
fourth part of the new feries, which con- 
tains a drawing of this inftrument, and an 
account of the obfervations made with it. 

As another probable caufe of the paucity 
of mathematical memoirs in the firfi vo- 
lume of the Traufadtions of the National 
Inftitute, it may be remarked, that moft of 
the members of this clafs are lecturers in 

the 



AND ITS MEETINGS. 347 

the Polytechnic and Mineral Schools, and 
other inftitutions, and that the journals 
publifhed by thofe feminaries contain many 
of their memoirs, which is the cafe with 
Lagrange, Prony, Lefevre-gineau, Briflbn, 
Hauy, and others. 

The writings of the old Academy of 
Sciences were divided into two parts, Hif- 
toire and Memoires. The firft contained an 
hiftorical account of its proceedings, and 
extracts from the minutes ; and the other, 
the memoirs themfelves. Since the orga- 
nization of the prefent National Inftitute, 
no part of its hiftory is admitted into its 
writings ; but, in the general meeting at 
the clofe of the year, a particular account 
of its proceedings is delivered by the Pre- 
iident of the Inftitute, to the Preiidents 
of the Council of Five Hundred, and the 
Council of Ancients, who refpedtively reply 
to the fpeech made by the Prefident of the 
Inftitute. One of thefe reports, or ac- 
counts of the Inftitute, is in titled, " Compte 
rendu et prefent e au Corps Legijlatif^ le pre- 
mier jour 'complement aire Van 4, par Tlnftitut 

National, 



348 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

National, contenant Tanalyfe des travaux 
pendant Tannee &me" Similar accounts 
have been publifhed, for the 5th and 6th 
years. 

In all that I have faid of the members of 
the National Inftitute, in this and the pre- 
ceding letters, my readers will obferve that 
I have always mentioned with warm com- 
mendation and becoming refpe£t, thofe 
who are eminent in their refpe£iive pur* 
fuits, and that I conilder the National In- 
ititute of France, as being one of the molt 
important learned focieties in Europe. If 
I fhould think or write otherwife, I fhould 
look upon myfelf as deftitute of all under- 
standing. Hence I was the more furprifed, 
when, after my return home, I found it 
fignified, in the Decade Philofophique littS- 
raire et politique, An. viii. 30me. Pluviofe, 
No. 15, p. 372, that in my letters to Co- 
penhagen, I had uniformly reviled the In- 
ftitute, held it up to ridicule, and depidted 
it in the darkeft colours. 

I need make no obfervation on the mean- 
nefs of flanderoufly mifreprefenting the 

corre- 



AND ITS MEETING?. 34Q 

correfpondencc of an individual with his 
friends, merely to find, or make, a pretence 
for complaint ; fince fuccefs in perfuading 
people to believe his afperiions ultimately 
fixes a ftigma on the calumniator himfelf. 
But I do hereby deny my having ever writ- 
ten a fyllable with which the members of 
the National Inftitute, either individually, 
or collectively, could be offended ; and I 
challenge any perlbn whatever to produce 
a letter from. my hand having that tendency. 
In compliance with the advice of my 
friends at Paris, I have made no reply to 
any of thofe libellers. My friends know 
that their afiertions are untrue, and thole 
who are not acquainted with me will be 
convinced of their falfhood by the publica- 
tion of my travels. On this difagreeable 
fubjecl I have been hitherto filent ; and 
have looked upon my puny aflailants in 
the Decade Phihfophique, with that con- 
tempt which they deferve. 



R CHAP. 



350 AEROSTATIC SCHOOL 



CHAP. XV. 

1FKJS AEROSTATIC SCHOOL IN MEUDON 

FRENCH MONUMENTS. 

The Aerojlatic School at Meudon — Efila- 
hlijhment, Officers, Pupils — Dejign of \ this. 
Injlitution — Conte, his Invention — Aero- 
jlatic Soldiers — Materials of which thofe 
Air Balloons are tompofed — Mode of fill- 
ing them — French Monuments—Such as 
efcaped the Fury of the Populace, ordered 
to be collected and depofited in the fmall 
Augujline . Monaflery — Saloons Jet apart 
for that Purpofe — Clarification, Tafle, 
and Indujlry of Lanoir — Monuments of 
Kings, Queens, Statefmen, Warriors, Men 
of Letters, &c. - — Statues in Marble, 
Bronze, &c. — Names of the Artifis zvho 
defigned and executed them — Some of them 
the boldejl and happiejl Efforts of Genius 

—Infcrip- 



IN MJSUDON. 351 

— Infer iptions — Annealed Glafs— -Paint- 
ing on Glafs — Churches, &c. whence they 
were taken — Several mutilated Pieces of 
Art reft or eel— Reflections on the Whole. 

THE Aeroftatic School in Meudon 
was eftablifhed by a decree of the 
Committee of Public Safety, the. 31 ft. of 
October, 17(}4. This feminary confifts of 
director, fnh-direCtor, a fecretary, a maga- 
zine-keeper-, and fixty pupils, who are in- 
ftrufted in all that relates to the aeroftatic 
fcience, efpecially fuch parts of it as may 
be dire6led to military operations. There 
are two rooms fet apart in the old caftle, for 
the conftrudtion of the air balloons, with 
all the apparatus neceflary for that purpofe. 
The pupils, with Conte the director, lodge 
in the new cattle. M. Conte is an able 
phyfician as well as a chemift : he cannot 
be too highly praifed for his unremitting 
attention to the regulations and manage- 
ment of the School. He is well known 
R2 for 



352 THE AEROSTATIC SCHOOL 

for his inventions, fuch as the aeroftatic te- 
legraph, and his factitious black lead pencils, 
which are brought to fuch a degree of per- 
fection, as to rival the beft in England: they 
are not prepared from the native ore, but a 
compofition which conillts, as far as I have 
learned, of iron and fulphur. 

The balloons in Meudon are made of a 
peculiar kind of thick taffety, wove for 
that purpofe. When fewed they are var- 
nifhed over : fo that the pores- are clofed 
in fuch a manner as to prevent the evapo- 
ration of the gas in a very confiderable de- 
gree, which is the reafon that thofe balloons 
hold the hydrogen, or inflammable air, 
many months ; whilit others that are not 
prepared in the fame manner are found to 
be exhausted in a few days. To the improve- 
ment of the gas, M. Conte has not a lit- 
tle contributed to. the manner of filling the 
air balloons. The mode is to erect a fmall 
furnace, through which feveral large iron 
pipes pafs (commonly from four to fix,) 

which 



which are filled with trim fTlings- The 
ends of thefe tubes extend ; ut of the fur- 
nace^ and are furnifhed with a cock, which 
may be opened or fhut at pleafure. A 
fmajler tube is joined to the end of thefe 
pipes, and is then inferted in the lid of the 
copper or veile!. half filled with water, and 
fo air tight that the fleam can only find its 
way through the red hot tubes in the fur- 
nace. From the oppofite end of thefe red 
hot tubes, which run out of the furnace, a 
fmall tube goes into the vefTel, which is 
filled with a folution of cauftic lye, or al- 
kali, and then it pafles to the tube which 
conveys, the hydrogen gas into the bal- 
loon. 

The whole apparatus, cauldron, furnace, 
occ. may be erecfted and worked in two 
days. A balloon af about thirty feet dia- 
meter may be filled in two or three days, 
When a balloon of this fize is newly filled, 
it will carry up a weight of 2000 pounds, 
and twenty men at lead. In two months 
it lofcs fo much by evaporation, that it will 

R 3 only 



354 THE AEROSTATIC SCHOOL 

only bear 500 pounds, and ten men. I 
have feen the experiment tried in the 
Champ de Mars on the feaft of the New 
Year, in the feventh year of the Republic. 
Such balloons are always found ready filled 
on the terrace at Meudon, where they ftand 
in the open air without receiving any appa- 
rent injury, in confequence of the peculiar 
texture of the taffety, and the excellence 
of the varnifh. The upper part was co- 
vered with a coat or cafe of fine leather, 
from whence the ropes defcended, to which 
the car was attached. All thefe military 
balloons are tied together, and aeroftatic 
foldiers taught to manage them. 

In mild or ferene weather a number of 
thefe foldiers afcend, always accompanied 
by an officer or fubaltern. Two compa- 
nies of aeroftatic foldiers are always quar- 
tered ajt Meudon. Each confifts of one 
captain, two lieutenants, two ferjeants, 
two corporals, one drummer, and forty pri- 
vates. 

The little Auguftine monaftery, now fhut 

up, 



IN MEUDQN. 355 

up, contains a collection of French monu- 
ments. The decree of the National Con- 
vention to abolifh every veftige of royalty, 
or any thing that might recal the days of 
feodality, was confidered as the iignal for 
defolation, plunder, and rapine over all the 
kingdom of France. The flatues of kings 
and others without diftindtion were hewed 
down and levelled with the daft. The no-- 
bleft and happieft efforts of the pencil were 
rent in pieces, and (battered in the air. 
Entire feries of the moft precious medals, 
the labour and refearch of ages, were ftolen 
or consigned to the crucible. AH the mo- 
numents and epitaphs within reach of the 
hand of fury, were broken to pieces. The 
greateft part of the labours of the firft 
artifts, collected in different parts of the 
world, fhared the fame fate. The Vandals 
and barbarians^ who rather refembled the 
furies let loofe from hell, than human be- 
ings, vented their ungovernable rage on 
the choiceft productions of tafte and ge- 
R 4 nius* 



356 MUSEUM OP 

gius. In the Convention and Revolution- 
ary tribunals, the moft profligate and 
abandoned boafted of the revenge which 
they took on the arts. The enlightened 
Gregoire ventured at length, at the rifk of 
his life, (left he fhould be accufed of being 
attached to the old fyftem) to ftand for- 
ward as the advocate of the Mufes. On 
the 31ft. of Auguft, 1793, beaddrefled a 
letter to the Convention, in which he 
painted in the moft natural and lively co- 
lours, the irruption of this vandalic horde 
into the fanfluaries of fcience, and the ex^ 
cefles which they committed on monu- 
ments that lent immortality to mortals. 
This eloquent epiitle at firft had little 
effe<5t : at length, however, the Conven- 
tipn began to think of converting the pub- 
lic monuments to national property. For 
this purpofe they ordered them to be col- 
.levied and depofited in the fmall Auguftine 
cloifter. This injunction, however, was at- 
tended with little effe6l, as may be col- 
lected 



FRENCH MONUMENTS, 357 

lecled from the commiffion of public in- 
ftrudtion, decreed, the' 20th of October,- 
1795, which enadted, ift, that a mufeum 
fhould be erefled for the confervation of the 
French monuments; 2diy, that no perfon 
fhould dare to carry away or deftroy any 
of the public monuments; and, Sdly, that 
the propofal of Lanoir, infpeetor of the' 
mufeum, refpefting the erection of the 
faid mufeum fhould be taken into imme- 
diate confideration. 

The propofal of this ingenious gentle- 
man was acceded to, and the fums necef- 
fary to carry the fame into execution, were 
voted. Lanoir began without delay to 
arrange and repair the mutilated ftatr.es 5 
&c. with unremitting induftry, at as little 
expence to the public as poffible; The 
general plan of claffincation is to arrange 
the ftatues,.&c. in cehtinies in -falocns 
decorated in the tafte of each age. Three 
faloons are already devoted to this purpofe, 
viz. the thirteenth, fifteenth, and feven- 
teenth centuries. Thefe falcons are ex-'' 
R 5 tremel. 



358 MUSEUM OF 

treme'ly neat, fome of the ftatues are raifed 
on pedeftals, and others placed againft the 
wall. The monuments thus arranged, and 
erected in the three faloons, amount to up- 
wards of two hundred. 

I {hall now give a fhort defcription of 
thefe monuments. The firft collection is 
the Grecian antiques, twelve tomb-flones 
of fine marble, with Greek infcriptions 
and bas reliefs, fome ftatues taken from 
Hichelieu's garden, and amongit the reft 
a highly finifhed Bacchus, as large as life, 
with his thyrfis ,in one hand^ and a bunch 
of grapes in the other, and Meleaeger in the 
chace. They are fine ftatues of Parian 
marble, Thofe antiques in all amount to 
twenty-fix in number. Of Celtic monu- 
ments there are four altars, three fides 
are bas-reliefs, reprefenting an offering, on 
the fourth fide is the following infcriptioix 
Tib. Csefare 
Aug Jovi optumo 
Maximo - - - M, 
Nautae ParifiacL 
Publice poficrunt 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. 359 

This infcription probably means, that the 
Parifian leamen who had failed down the 
Seine, raifed this altar to the honour of 
Tiberius. 

Of the monuments of the middle ago 
there is a ftone coffin, or farcophagus, of 
greyifh ftone, rudely hewn, which con- 
tains >he remains of King Dagobert, alfo a 
monument for Childebert, and another to 
the memory of Fredcgunde, Chilperic's 
queen, and another to Mary, in wood. 

The falcon fet apart for the monuments 
of the thirteenth century is already com* 
pleted. The dome is vaulted in the Go- 
thic ftyle, with a blue ground, ftudded with 
gilt ftars, the (harp pointed bows or arches 
fupport each other, ornamented with rofes 
according to the tafte of the day. Two of 
them reprefent the Evangelifh, which 
were taken from St. Victor's- church. Se- 
pulchral lamps are fufpended from thefe 
rofes, the doors and windows are rib formed., 
they are compofed of the remains of a.mo> • 
nument in St. Denis. The panes of the 
R.6. windows 



360 MUSEUM OF 

windows are in the Gothic tafte, and taken 
from a cemetery which Montreau, the fa- 
mous architect, had raifed to himfelf in 
1250. This faloon, in my opinion, is very 
properly lighted with feet>Ie rays. 

In this repofitory, whofe tout enfemble has 
a good effect, are contained twenty-eight 
monuments, Amongft others there are 
the cenotaphs brought from St. Denis for 
Clovis the Firft and Second. Martel, Pe- 
pin's father, Pepin and his queen Bertha, 
Charles the Bald, Hugh Capet, Philip the 
fon of Louis the Sixth, the queen of Louis 
the Seventh. Figures are placed over all 
thefe cenotaphs. The fon of Louis the 
Ninth, and a ? child a year old, have- a 
monument of wood, covered with ena- 
melled copper. There are different fta- 
tues befides, fuch as that .of Louis the 
Ninth, and Margaret his queen, Elizabeth, 
and fome bas-reliefs. The rudenefs of the 
age is vifible in all thefe monuments ; fome 
indeed evince a greater progrefs in tafte 

and 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. 36l 

and execution than could be expedled in 
thofe times. 

In the faloon, facred to the 14th century, 
there are thirty-eight monuments, raoft of 
which were erected in St. Denis to the 
memories of the Kings of France, fuch as 
Louis the Tenth, Philip the Fifth, Philip of 
Valois, Charles the Fifth- The figures are 
almoft all of marble. On the monument 
of William Chanac, Bifhop of Paris, taken 
from St. Victor's church, is the following 
infcription : 

Hie fitus eft Dominus G. de Chanac, patriarcha 

Alexandrians, juris dum viveret area. 

Mores ornatos ad culmen pietatis 

Adjungens gratos actus habuit pietatis, 

Plebis et Eccleiiae praelatus Parifienfis 

Cultor juvtitiae perverforum fuit enrls 

Sandlo die crueis in Majo moriens 

Anno milleno trecento quadrageno 

Octoque, cerYtenos annos peragens qvafi plenos 

Pro diieetoris anima tul dulciterora 

Sancti Vic tons conventus qvalibet hora. 

In the faloon for the fifteenth century 
there are fifteen monuments, confiding of 
Queens, Princes, Prin cedes, &c. taken 

from 



362 MUSEUM OF 

from- the royal cemeteries In St. Denis. I 
flhall here tranfcribe a monumental infcrip- 
tion over Jean de la Port -, in what is called 
boms riiBes. 

Bonnes gens vous deveti 

- penfer 
Qvon doit fon terns bien dis 

Car la rnort bmme de — portc 

Temoing maiilre Jehan de la 

Concil-eatur pour le 



Au Chastelet et sous des- 
L'un des efchuiers en fa 

De Paris, fous d'autrui en 
Le quel en terre cy 

Gist comme la mortre 
Et laifTa ce monde hi 



roy 



cour 



Devant 
Deux 



Mil quatrecent qvarante. 

The faloon defigned for the fixteenth 
century is-fin.ifhed with great tafte. Two 
academic figures, executed by Barthelemy 
Prieur, are placed over the door. The 
joints of the door are of yellow ftreaked 
marble. The cieling is ornamented with 
arabefque, according to the tafte of the 
times. This hall contains fifty- three mo- 
numents, 



FPwENCH SfOSTimENTS, 303 

mimenfs. The monument of Louis evinces 
that the art iy began to make a rapid 

progrefs towards perfection. The King's 
ue* as well as that of the Queen, (Anne) 
are of excellent workmanfhip. The twelve 
Apoftles are arranged in twd re richly or- 
namented arcades, in which the artift has 
exhibited considerable tafte in the ftyle and 
reprefemation. In corners there 

are the four cardinal virtues in a natural 
fize, the whole refts on a pediment of black 
marble, on whole edges there are bas-reliefe, 
reprefenting the victories of Louis the 
Twelfth. This fine hiftorical monument 
has fuffered much from Jacobinic rage. The 
heads, nofe. arms, and hands, are broken 
from the figures. 

The monument of Renee d'Orleans Lon- 
gueville has fix bas reliefs of alabalter/ 
finely executed. The monument to the 
memory of Louis Deponchier and his wire, 
is ornamented with the figures of both, with 
letter ones reprefenting the virtues. The 
whole is finely executed in alaoaiter, 

The 



364 MUSEUM OF 

The monument of Francis the Firft is 
ere&ed in a particular chapel, fet apart for 
that purpofe. The King and his Queen 
Claudia are reprefented by two marble 
figures, fomewhat larger than the natural 
fize, extended as dead. The artifl may be 
faid to have difputed the prize with na- 
ture in the execution of this monument. 
The privation of life in the countenance 
and rnufcles is finely exprefled. The pedef- 
tal on which thefe figures lie is adorned 
with a bas-relief, repreienting the vi&ories 
of Francis^ different genii with extinguifhed 
torches, allegoric figures, he. The roof 
is fupported by fixteen fluted columns. 
Francis and his Queen are grouped on 
the ciding in their gala robes, together 
with the two Princes their fons, and their 
daughters, all of fine marble. The whole 
was defigm d by Primatice, and fculptured 
-by Jean Gougeon. This ^oftly monument, 
the firft perhaps in France for defign and 
execution, formerly flood in the church of' 
St. Denis. It fuffered very much in the 

paroxyfm 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. 305 

paroxyfm of popular tumult ; but Lanoir 
has been very fuccefsful in re-inftating the 
fragments, according to "the original de- 
lign, which he had copied in his youth, 
whilft aftudent in works of this kind. 

The monument over Henry the Second 
and his Queen, Catharine of Medicis, is on 
the eve of being reftored in the fame man- 
ner, with the addition of four fine figures 
in bronze,, one in each corner, reprefenting 
the four cardinal virtues. This fine mo- 
nument is twelve feet and a half in length, 
ten in breadth, and fourteen in heighth. It 
was defignpd by Philibert de'Lorme* Sooa 
after the demife of the King, Catharine 
gave directions to Germain Pilon, her own 
fculptor, to execute it, which he did with 
great felicity, for it may be called the chef 
d'eeuvre of all the fine works with which 
he has enriched the empire of fcuipiure. 

The fame artift alfo executed the three 
Graces, four feet three inches high. They 
ftand on a triangular pedeftal, and bear 
an urn, which contains the hearts of 

Henr^ 



366 MUSEUM OB* 

Henry and Catharine. The following in- 
fcriptions are cut in the three fides of the 
pedeftal. 

On the firft fide — 
Cor junctum amborum longum teftatu amorem. 
Ante hommes, junctus fpiritus ante Decern. 

On the fecond fide — 

Cor quondam cliaritum fedem cor fumma fecu* 

turn 
Tres Charites fumrao vertice jure ferunt» 

On the third fide — 

Hie Cor depofuit Regis Catharina mariti 
Id eupiens proprio condere porTe finu. 

Thofe three figures breathe all the 
charms of immortal youth and gaiety. 
They are ranked amongft the happieft ef- 
forts of Pilon's chifel. 

There are two ftatues at the feet of 
Henry the Fourth, both of marble. The 
firft was executed by Franchville, and the 
fecond by Prieur, In the fame Apartment 
there are twelve bas-reliefs, two bufis, 
fome in marble, and foroe in bronze, with 
a Madonna in Mofaic work, and two very 

large 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. 307 

large and fine enamelled figures. Thefe 
two exhibit the paiTion of Chrift. The 
portraits of Francis the Firft and his Queen 
Claudia are added to the one, and thofe of 
Henry the Second and Diana of Poitiers 
to the other. They were executed in 
1553, by Leonard Limoufm. 

The monument over Giu de Faus is 
Worthy of attention. He was Prefident of 
the Parliament, and employed in many 
embaffies under Charles the Second, and 
Henry the Third. A Latin epitaph fets 
forth the principal events of his life ; at 
the end of which are to be feen four French 
ftrophes or quatrains, which have, as it 
were, miraculoufly efcaped the fury of 
the Jacobins, when infcriptions leis calcu- 
lated to recal the days of royalty fell a fa- 
crifice to their deftruclive rage. Curiofity 
on Hihis" very account induced me to* tran- 
fcr'ibe them, and which I now prefent to 
the reader : 

II eft permis lbuhaiter un bon Prince, 
Mais tel qu'il eft, il le convient porter ; 
Car il vaut mieux un tyian iupporter 
'Qve de troubler la paix de la province, 



368 _ MUSEUM OV 

The falcon appropriated to the momi- 
ments of the fixteenth century is ready. 
It is ornamented in the tafte of thole days. 
it contains one hundred and three monu- 
ments. Cardinal Berulle's was executed by 
Jacob Sarrazin and Michael Anguier. This 
monument is juftly admired^ particularly 
the bas-reliefs. 

The maufoleum of Cardinal Richelieu 
was defigned by Lebrun, and executed by 
Girardon, and is confidered as his mafier- 
piece. The pedeftal is fourteen feet long, 
and five feet nine inches broad. The Car- 
dinal's figure is fix feet high, placed be- 
twixt two female figures, one reprefenting 
Religion, the other Hiftory, with two Genii, 
each two feet and a half high. This mau- 
foleum did not efcape in the war that was 
waged against the productions of genius. 
Under the medallion of Defeartes, fui- 
pended to a pyramid of black marble, there 
are two infciiptions, one in Latin and the 
other in French, » 

On Cardinal Mazarin's monument he is 

reprc- 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. 36() 

reprefented on his knees, with a genius he- 
hind him bearing leveral weapons of war. 
Three figures in bronze are raifed on the 
pedeftal, each fix feet in height, one repre- 
fents Faith, the fecond Prudence, and the 
third Plenty. 

There are fourteen fine bas-reliefs on 
the monument of Henry of Bourbon Conde, 
they were modelled by Sarrazin, and exe* 
cuted by Perlan and Duval. 

The monument of the famous Marfhal 
Turenne, was executed after a defign by 
Lebrun. The groupe in which the Mar- 
fhal is reprefented in arms, was executed 
by Tuby, and the two ereA figures, Wif- 
dom and Courage, by Marfy. Under- 
neath the figure of Turenne, in the centre 
of a cenotaph, is a bas-relief in bronze, 
reprefenting the glorious and fanguinary 
battle of Turckhum, o.n the 5th of Ja- 
nuary 1675. 

There are two very, neat monuments 
raifed to the memory of Colbert and Lou- 

vors; 



370 MUSEUM Ob 

vois ; the two great ornaments and fupport 
of the reign* of Louis the Fourteenth. 
Thefe monuments were executed by Gi- 
rardon, Coyzevox, Tuby, and Desjardins. 

A bull of the celebrated painter Charles 
Lebrun is placed on a pyramid, with 
a figure reprefenting Piety. There are 
two figures, one on each fide, Piety and 
Painting : the fir ft looks up to the 
painter, and the other in a deje&ed at- 
titude deplores the lofs of her favourite. 
Coyzevox, the faithful friend of Lebrun, 
who exhaufted all his powers on thefe fine 
figures. An equeftrian model in bronze 
of Louis the Fourteenth, by Girardon, has 
found a place in this collection. The fta- 
tue from whence it was made flood in the 
Place de Vendome, the left foot of it only 
now remains, which lies by the fide of the 
model. Adjoining is a model in bronze, of 
the fiatue of Louis the Fourteenth, which 
flood in the Hotel dc Ville at Paris, exe- 
cuted by Coyzevox. There are two mgr- 

bh 



l£N<$H MjXUMKXTS, oji 

ble ftatues at the foot of this, as large as 
life, one was executed by Goyzevox, and 
the other by Michael Anguier. 

In addition to thefe, there are thirteen 
ftatues of Ghrift, and the Holy Family, of 
an extraordinary fize, they were all col- 
lected from the pillaged churches in Paris, 
with fixteen bas reliefs, fome in marble and 
fome in bronze. 

Of bufts, a great number has been 
faved and erected, fuch as I hole of Henry 
the Third, Louis the Fourteenth, and Louis 
the Fifteenth. Of ftatefinen and warriors 
there are fifteen, and amongit others thofe 
of Sully, Mazarin, Richelieu, Colbert, 
Turenne, and the great Conde, &c. Of 
learned men, St. Peyrefe, Regis, Quinault, 
Lafontaine, Moliere, Con Racing and 

Boileau. Of artiiis, Mignard Pouffin, and 
Lefue, painters; Lenoftre and Manfard, 
architects;, and Sarrazin and Paget, the 
fculptors. A few of thete baits are of 
bronze, and the reft marble. I alio ob- 
ferveda fmall piece c ic work, finely 

executed 



37^ MUSEUM 09 

executed, reprefenting Saint Hieronymous 
in the defert. 

There are thirteen monuments already 
colle&ed, the works of the eighteenth cen- 
tury, excelled by none in corre^tnefs of de- 
fign, and felicity of execution. Amongft 
thefe the following may be juftly ranked as 
thefineft. The monument of Cardinal Du- 
bois ; the figure is of marble; it is very 
fine, and fufficient of itfelf to immortalize 
the name of Conftou, the fculptor. An 
allegoric monument of the parifh prieft of 
St. Sulpice, Langnet de Gercy, claims at- 
tention ; it was executed by Michael An- 
•gelo Slodtz. — Death is here reprefented as 
a ikeleton in bronze. I cannot approve 
this mode of reprefenting Death, either in 
bronze or marble ; it is not, in my opinion, 
fan&ioned by good tafte. The Greeks 
and Romans never perfonified the King of 
Terrors in this frightful manner. Death is 
exhibited in this mode in an open coffin on 
the monument of Marfhal Harcourt. The 
Marfhal is endeavouring to caft his fhroud 

afide, 



FKENCH MONUMENTS, 373 

in order to fpeak to his wife, who is on her 
knees by the fide of his tomb. Her coun- 
tenance is interefting, being filled with all 
that grief can infpire, brightened up how- 
ever with the mild ferenity and refignation 
of a pious Chriftian that looks for immor- 
tality, and the rewards of another life. 
This monument taken altogether is finely 
executed. The hand may be faid to have 
embodied the thoughts of the fculptor with 
a fidelity beyond exprefiion ; nor can I 
paint the impreffion arifmg from the view 
of it, a pleafing melancholy accompanied 
by a religious and philolbphic calm. 

Thefe monuments were all taken from the 
churches : they were executed by Coyze- 
vox, Van CJeve, Couftoq, Pigalle, Slodtz, 
Vafle, Lemoine, Falconet, and Monnot. 
There are thirteen bas reliefs in bronze, 
marble, and wood. The defigns were taken 
from fubje6ls in the fcriptures. The bufis 
and medallions confift of ftatefrnen and ge- 
nerals ; the Regent Philip, of Orleans, 
S Marflial 



3/4 MUSEUM OP 

Marfhal Asfcld, Count of Saxony, D'Ar- 
genfon,and Montefquieu. In the learned 
•clafs are Deftouches, Fontenclie, Auruc, 
Helvxtius, Piron, Belloi, Voltaire, J. J.Rouf- 
fe.au, Birffon, Diderot, Cluck, Raynal, 
Bailly, the famous aftronomer and hiftorian, 
the firft Mayor of Paris, Vaucanfon, &c. 
Two neat pieces of mofaic work caught 
my eye ; the fmaller one reprelents a hand- 
ful of flowers upon a ground of black mar- 
ble. The larger is eleven feet long and 
feven broad, and is intended for the ground- 
floor of the fa-loon, which is not yet ready, 
but if finifhed according to the defign of 
Lanoir, it will be an additional proof of his 
refined taftc. 

I found here what I little expected, the 
epitaph of the immortal Window, my coun- 
tryman, which efcaped the indifcriminate 
fury of the mob. I thought it worth tranf- 
Jating: 



D. O. M. 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. " 0/5 

D. O. M. 

Hicjacet « 

in fpem beats immortalitatis. Jacobus Benignus 
v/inslow, patria Danus; cpmmoratione Gallus, ortu 
et genere nobilis, nobilior virtute et do6trina, pa- 
rentibus lutheranis natus, hsresin, qvam infans im- 
biberat, vir ejurr.vit, et adnitente ill. Ilpiscopo Mel- 
densi Jacobo Benigno Bossuetio, cujus nomenBenig- 
ni in confirmatione suscepit, ad excelsiam catholi- 
cam evocatus, stetit in ejus fide, vixit sub ejus lege, 
obiit in ejus sinu ; vir save verax et plus, in 
pauperis summe misencors, nuilaque erroris aut 
vitu pravitate afflatus. Regius lin^varum teutonics- 
rum mterpres saluberirnae facuhatis Parisiensis Doc- 
tor Regens ; ilium maedics artis et praesertim anato- 
mies doctorem et professorem peritissimum regia 
eruditorum societas Berolihi, regi scientiarum aca- 
demise iutetis socium communi sufFrasrio ele-erunt, 

o o 

Vita excessitV Nonas Aprills anno S'alutisMDCCLX 
B5tatis XCI. 

Pio Conjugi et Parenti 
uxor et liberi hoc monument am posuerunt. 

I fhall now give you a fhort account of 
the ftained glafs. In the depot of the 
thirteenth century, there are three large 
church windows, with panes of painted 
glafs, the work of that age. They were 
S 2 taken 



376 MUSEUM OF 

taken from the abbey of St. Germaine des 
Pres, and reprefent moral fubje6te, parti- 
cularly thofe of domeftic life. 

In the faloon, facred to the fixteenth 
century, there is a painting of Charles the 
Sixth, on his knees, upon a large pane, 
encompafTed with many fmaller ones,, on 
pious fubjects. 

In the faloon, dedicated to the fifteenth 
century, there are two very large paintings 
in glafs reprefenting paflages in the apoca- 
lypfe. They were painted by Johan Cou- 
fins, and another with the portrait of Fran- 
cis the Firfl, by the fame inimitable pen- 
cil, in the natural fize. Thefe fine pieces 
were taken from the chapel in Saint Vin- 
cennes : next follow the birth and circurn- 
cifion of Chrift, defigned by Parmafons. 
An Ecce Homo painted by Albert Durer. 
In the windows of the gallery or corridor 
there are two and twenty paintings on 
glafs, after the defigns of Raphael, repre- 
fenting the fable of Pfyche. The laft 

named 



FRENCH MONUMENTS. 377 

named five-and-twenty-pieces were taken 
from the Caftle of Ecouen. 

In the faloon fet apart for the produc- 
tions of the fixteenth century, there are two 
panes with defigns founded on the hiftory 
of Saint Gervais and Saint Prolais^ Mary's 
flight to Egypt, two panes in morefque 
work. Thefe pieces were executed byPerrin, 
from the defigns of Lefucr, and were taken 
from Saint Gervais. The following paint- 
ings on glafs were taken from the cloifter 
of the Feuillants in the ftreet Honore. Don 
Jean de la Barriere, the founder of that 
cloifter, in which a chapter was once held, 
A reprefentation of De la Barriere, in 
prifon ; a precious fight for the fuper- 
ftitions. The entry of Henrv the Fourth 
into Paris. Thefe two pieces were exe- 
cuted by Simpy after the defigns of Elgcs. 

The faloons, which are reduced to order, 

namelv. thofe of the thirteenth, fixteenth 

arc! feventeenth centuries, are very neat 

nmodious ; the fourteenth and eigh* 

S 3 teenth, 



"7$ MUSEUM 0$ 

teenth, as yet lie negle&ed, unlefs \\\ 
cept thole that are creeled in the court, 
gardens, paiTages, and rooms of the afore- 
faid Auguftine cloiiler. This promifcuous 
heap of warriors, ftatefmen; knights, men 
e.f letters, faints, prelates, monks, and nuns, 
creates an agreeable furprize at firft view . 
bat the contemplative fpe&ator finds him- 
immediately difpofed to afk this quef- 
:, What right has the prefent genera- 
tion to deliroy thofe monuments which 
their forefathers eredted to perpetuate the 
nietnory of their relatives or friends. Have 
they not afforded maintenance and fupport 
to many artifts, and fanned the fparks of 
genius and emulation ? What muft the 
living artifts think when they fee the pre- 
cious works of their matters expefed to the 
caprice of a licentious mob ? Have they 
not ferious caufe'to be alarmed for the fu- 
ture fate of their own labours, and that a 
finglc day may cleitroy the labours of ages? 
What muft be their feelings when they 

enter 



PBENOH MONUMENTS. ?JQ 

enter any one of the churches which are 
fiijj open in Paris, flripped of tlicir orna- 
ments, the naked walls disfigured with 
holes, and the floors on which thole monu- 
ments ftood covered with dirt and gravel ;. 
what an awful fenfation, when Reafbn has 
refumed her throne., to behold the trophiei 
of the arts thus Scattered and annihilated ! 

The celebrated and Indefatigable Zvliilin, 
in the commencement of the year I: 
publifhed a collection of monuments in 
ibur volumes. He had been at great pai 
and expence in travelling over France, to 
collect the moil, remarkable either for dc- 
figo or execution that the kingdom could . 
bo?,ft. They were copied and engraved* 
with great accuracy. He had alio copied 
a great number of epitaphs and inferip- 
tioas, which he illuftrated with many hii'lo- 
rical remarks, fo as to render them very 
interesting to the hiftorian and antiouary. 
In the month of November 17Q3, he pub- 
lifhed the fifth volume under the tith> q£ 
Anliquites Nationalcs. 

S 4 Milling 



380 MUSEUM OF 

Mimn s houfc is the refort of all men of 
genius and tafte. It is the only one in Paris 
where a traveller can form an immediate 
acquaintance with Frenchmen and Gran- 
gers. Every feventh day in each decade 
he gives what is called his literary tea. 
The company begin to aflemble about eight 
or nine o'clock. The table in the firft 
room is covered with French and foreign 
journals, and new publications of merit. 
The inner chamber is occupied by ladies, 
who play on the clavecin, and accompany 
it with their voice, which has a pleafing 
effe6t, efpecially in filling up the paufes 
of conversation. About eleven the com- 
pany is treated w r ith tea, punch and cakes, 
his good mother pays the utmoft attention 
to the guefts, and feems highly gratified 
in rendering them every courtefy in her 
power. About twelve they all retire. 

Tn thofe circles I have found thirty and 
forty perfonsat a time. Mr. Millinhasabook, 
in which every traveller writes down his name 

to 



FRENCH MONUMENTS, 381 

to enable him to preferve the remembrance 
of each. I am glad of this opportunity 
to return Mr. Manthey, the Danifh fe- 
cretary of legation^ my fincere thanks for 
having introduced me to M. Millin, in whofe 
houfe I have pafled many agreeable even- 
ings, and where I had frequent opportuni- 
ties of forming many valuable acquaint- 
ances, which rendered my ftay in Paris 
at once amufing and inftru&ive. 






S 5 CHAP. 



382 PRESENT STATE OP THE 



CHAPTER XVI, 

PRESENT STATE OF THE MANUFACTURES 
OF FRANCE. 

Exhibition of various French Manufa£liire$ f 
Aris, &c. — Watchwork — Artificial Black 
Lead Pencils* — Files— CEconomic fi eves- 
Locks— Chemical ProdiiStions—JVoven and 
printed Tapefiry — Earthenware — Steel- 
work — Silk 9 Cotton, Linen, Leather, Seal- 
ing-wax, Chryjlal Glafs.— Weights and 
Meajures — Stereotypic Printing- — Puree- 

• lam^.'Spnning Machines — Mechanical En~ 
gravings, &e. 



T, 



HE two laft of the complementary 
days of every year are devoted to an exhi- 
bition of the different fpecimens of French 

manufac- 



MAX IT. fiSj OF FEANCE. 383 

manufactures, arts, and handicrafts, which, 
are expofed to public infpecStion, in a 
large building raifed on porticoes or 
arches, in the Champ de Mars, oppo- 
fite to the directorial amphitheatre. On 
the evening of the third complementary 
day, the minifter of the interior, with the 
officers of the central bureau, reported, 
the names of a jury appointed to examine^ 
felecl, and pronounce on the.beft fpecimens 
in manufactures, arts, &c. which are de-- 
pofited in thofe arcades for that purpofe.- 
As I have enjoyed a great deal of pfeafure 
in loitering through thofe arcades,- I (hall 
prcfent a fhort account of their contents : 

ift Arcade. A pendulum which ftrikes 
decimal feconds, and fhevvs the new divi- 
fions of time; the days are divided into ten 
hours, the hours into a hundred minutes^ 
and the minutes into a hundred feconds. 
This was executed by Conturier. On my 
return home, I chanced to alight on a 
watchmaker, in Colding, who had made a 
S 6 W3jch» 



384 PRESENT STATE OF THE 

watch according to this new divifion of 
time. In the fame arcade I faw a group 
of figures in porcelain, reprefenting Me- 
leager and Atalante. I alfo few feveral 
fpecimens of plated work, executed by Pa- 
toulet, Andre, and Lebeau, in the depart- 
ment of the Seine and Oife. I cannot fay 
that I faw any thing in this arcade, that 
ltruck me as peculiarly excellent. 

2d Arcade. Breguet, the famous watch- 
maker, has difcovered a new echapement 
which is propelled by a conftant and uni- 
form force. This is a very lucky inven- 
tion, and combines many advantages. 
Bruns, a carpenter^ furnifhed many pieces 
of beautiful inlaid work in the cabinet 
line. 

3d Arcade. Fine razors, forged of fteel, 
made in Clouet's new manner. 

4th Arcade. Black lead pencils of differ- 
ent kinds, for defigning and drawing lines, 
by Conte. They were of a peculiar com- 
pofition, and fuperior to thofe of Eng- 
land, 

5th 



MANUFACTURES OF FRANCE. 385 

• 5th 'Arcade. Different kinds of files, 
coarfe and fine : they appeared to be very 
\ve]l finiihed. 

6th Arcade. Defarnod's healthy and 
economic ftoves, which are formed fo as to 
confume a fmall quantity of fuel, and yet 
warm the room Efficiently. The leaft clafs 
of thole ftoves or furnaces is twenty-four 
inches in height, twenty-one inches in 
breadth, eighteen inches long, and weigh 
four hundred and fifty pounds each. Themid- 
dle clafs is thirty inches in height, twen- 
ty-lix in breadth, and twenty-one in length, 
and weigh eight hundred pounds each. The 
largeft is thirty-fix inches in height, thir- 
ty-one in breadth, twenty-four in length, 
and weigh thirteen hundred and fifty 
pounds each. They were all of caft iron. 

7 th Arcade. Different locks and fcales 
made in Rock, Tague, and Pont Londry. 
I could not difcover any peculiar excel- 
lence in them. 

| 8th Arcade. Some of the chemical and 
mineralogical productions of De la Place. 

A chemical 



3 ; 6S PRESENT STATE OF Till 

A chemical furnace by BournmaicI, fore- 
man or melter to Saineuve ; neither ap- 
peared to be of any great value. 

9th Arcade. Several plan etari urns by 
Huelle and Fortier ; indifferent. 

10th Arcade.^ Specimens of woven and 
printed tapeftry, by Roby and Petit ; both- 
very fine, as well with refpe6l to defigns 
as colours. 

11th Arcade. White earthenware manu- 
factured by Pattes, in the department of 
FOife ; extremely fine and good. 

12th Arcade. The model of a monu- 
ment by Fouquet. Imitation of painting 
in feathers, the compofition of Bouiilard ; 
neither remarkable, 

13th Arcade. Fine fpecimens of cotton, 
carded and fpun by the machines in De- 
laitre's manufactory in the department of 
Seine and Oifc. 

14th Arcade. Fine woven cotten, the 
produce of the manufactory of Fonfredc in 
the department of the Haute Garonne. 

15th Arcade. Plain and printed cottons, 

the 



MANUFACTURES OF FKANCE. 38f 

the manufactory ' of Gremont and Bane; 
very fine. 

]6th Arcade. Different fpecimens of 
woven cotton, worth viewing. 

17th and 18th Arcade. Excellent cloths 
of different colours, manufactured in Fere 
and Chateauroux. 

10th Arcade. Pocket-handkerchiefs, the 
fir ft fpecimen of the kind from a large 
manufactory, ereCied for that article in the 
department of Maine and Loire. 

20th Arcade. All kind of fmith-work, 
hatchets, fpades, pickaxes, files, &c. Hard- 
ware, fuch as knives, fciffbrs, fnuffers, 
watch-chains ; the polifh fine. 

2lft Arcade. Specimens of woven cot- 
ton, the promife of improvement in that 
line. 

22d, 23d, and 24th Arcades. Fine cloth 
called Draps de Louviers, manufactured in 
the department of d'Eure; not eafy to de- 
termine which of the three fhould bear 
away the prize. 

2fith 



388 PRESENT STATE OP THE 

25th Arcade. Silk and cotton ftockings, 
manufactured in Befanqon. 

26th Arcade, Cottons from Pont Au- 
deme. The colours and patterns not very 
fine. 

27th Arcade. Very excellent linen cloths 

from the fame place. 

28th Arcade. The fineft piftols, rifle- 
barrelled guns, fabres of the moft coftly 
workmanflhip, the pride of the national 
manufactory at Verfailles. Thefe fine fpe- 
cimens of tafte, invention, and execution, 
derived additional luftre from the manner 
in which they were grouped or arranged. 

29th Arcade. Very fine patterns of tif- 
fany and gauze. 

30th and 3 ill Arcade. Fine fpecimens 
of tanned leather, from two tanneries in 
Pont Audemer. 

32d Arcade. Linen and pocket hand- 
kerchiefs from the fame place. 

33d Arcade. Cotton ftockings, and muf- 
lins fron> a manufactory in Troyes. 

34th Arcade. Copperfmith work, ex- 
cellent 



MANUFACTUKES OF FRANCE. 3SQ 

eellent, but ftill inferior to that of Eng- 
land. 

35th, 36th, and 37th Arcades. Silk and 
cotton Ttockings, manufactured at Troyes. 

38th Arcade. Sealing wax of different 
colours fcented. The flicks were very fine, 
and diffufed an agreeable fmell without 
being burned. I bought twelve flicks for 
thirty fous, each fix inches in length, and 
a quarter of an inch in thicknefs, of differ- 
ent colours, red white, green, blue, and 
brown. 

3Qth Arcade. GlafTes of different kinds, 
blown at Gorra, near Paris. 

40th Arcade. A complete fet of the new 
weights and meafures, executed by order 
of the Minifler of the Interior. 

41ft Arcade. The. new weights and 
meafurcs, executed by Ciceri, and in the 
42cl arcade, the machines by which the 
new weights and meafures are divided, by 
Kuts ; this artizan excels Ciceri in the 
execution of thole article?, 

43d 



390 PP.ESENT STATE OF THE 

43c! Arcade. Books printed on velh: 
paper in the office of Didot, the younger ; 
name!} 7 , Contrat Social, Juvenal, le Tele- 
maque, Anacharfis, &c. They are all mat- 
ter-pieces in the typographic line. 

44th, 45th, 46th, and 47th Arcades- 
Models of different machines. I could not 
find any marks of excellence in them, they 
were very clumfily executed. I was fur- 
prized to find that they fhould be offered as 
fpecimens of national ingenuity. 

48th and 49th Arcade. Excellent fpeci- 
mens in general of cotten and woollen 
cloths, which did great credit to the manu- 
factory in Beauvais. 

50th Arcade. A large aflbrtment of fa- 
bres, &c manufa&ured in Provoteaus. 

51 ft Arcade. Plates of horn for lan- 
thorns ; very large, pure, and transparent. 

52d Arcade. Several coftly articles of 
drefs fewed in fuch a manner, that the 
feam was not to be difcerncd. I had not 
the good fortune to fee them, as they were 

(ban tokeii awav. 

* 



IvlAXUFACTtJEES OF PRANCE. 3Q1 

53d Arcade. Stoneware manufactured 
in Vauderanges iu imitation of the Eng- 
lifti. 

54th Arcade. Excellent tin work, fuch 
as ink-ftands, flower-pots, &c. The form, 
was beautiful, painted in different colours-: 
fome ofthedefigns were very happily con- 
ceived and executed, they were done by , 
Deharme. 

55th Arcade. A haudmill, well con-. 
ftru£ed, by Dtirarid, which ground and; 
fifted at the fame time. He has invented 
feveral mills on different conftrudlions : ha 
is a mill-wright. 

56th and 57th Arcades. Several fpeei- 
mens of porcelain, the produce of the na- 
tional manufactory at Seve, fuch as tea 
urns, bafons, coffee-pots, plates, tureen's, 
and large and fmall vafes of all colours, 
figures, and groupes, in bifcuit, fo white 
and fine, that they might be eallly takea 
for gips. A round table of three feet ia 
diameter, compofed of many fmall pieces 
of blue ground, with white bas-relief, in 

imitation 



3Q2 present state of the 

imitation of Wedgewood ware ; notwith- 
standing it was not free from blemifhes, yet 
on the whole it was very neat and fine. 
On the porcelain there were two beautiful 
landfcapes, fourteen inehes in length, and 
ten in heighth. The form, defigns, co- 
lours, and gilding of the porcelain at Seve 
are entitled to great praife. 

In the mean time it may be proper to 
ohferve, that two kinds of porcelain are 
manufactured at Seve, foft and hard, the 
firft is more fhowy, but the laft approaches 
Dearer to true and real porcelain. 

58th Arcade. Pierre Didot, the printer, 
and Fermin Didot, and Louis Herhan, letter 
founders, or letter cutters, exhibited fome 
of the newly invented ftereotypic plates, in 
which each page of the book was cut or 
engraved^ fuch as was ufed in the infancy 
of printing, but of a compofition fo hard, 
that it will ferve to work off from eight to 
ten thousand copies. The expence is re- 
paid in the number of copies, though 
they are fold at a low price. In this ar- 
cade 



MANUFACTURES OF FRANCE. 3Q3 

cade I law an edition of Virgil in I2mo. 
which fells for fifteen ions, Phaedrus for 
twelve fous, and Fables de Fontaine for fif- 
teen foils. There was likewife a fplendid edi- 
tion of Virgil on vellum paper, with cop- 
per plates, printed in this manner. A fte- 
reotypic edition of Callet's tables of loga- 
rithms, Sec. Some books have juit ifllied 
from the fame prefs, which do great honour 
to this new invention. 

50th Arcade. All kinds of chryftal glafs 
from LeboiVs fabric in Creuzot, in the de- 
partment of Saone and Loire. Thefe glades 
are very beautiful in matter, form, and 
pplilh. 

6oth Arcade. A complete fervice of por- 
celain and decorations, defigned for the ta- 
ble of a fagar-baker in Paris. 

6l ft Arcade. The model of a threfhing 
machine, by a miller in Rouen, not equal 
to our threfhing machines in Denmark. 

62d, 63d, and 64th Arcades. Spinning 
machines from a fabric in Luat, in the de- 
partment of Seine and Oifc, together with 

fome 



3Q4 PRESENT STATE OF THE 

fome fweet-meats by a confe&ioner Ih 
Paris. 

65th Arcade. Porcelain from Dehl's 
and Gerhard's manufactory, Rue de Tem- 
ple, Paris. This porcelain is better, and 
more durable than that of Seve ; it is 
called in general Porcelaine d'Augouleme. 
Amongft many other fine pieces, I law up- 
wards of twenty paintings on porcelain, the 
largeft of which was twelve inches long, 
and ten broad. The fubjecls flower and 
fruit pieces, a fcene by moonlight, a young 
woman fitting, two old heads, and differ- 
ent landieapes. The defigns were correal 
and natural, the colouring fine, the light 
and fhade happily blended, and thte execu- 
tion of the whole inimitable. All thefe 
fine pieces did not experienc any caft or ble- 
mifh in the burning, which is not the cafe 
in other fabrics. It muft be obferved, 
however, that Dehl and Gerhard excel in 
the colour line, and that their furnaces are 
conftru&ed in fuch a manner, that the co- 
lours do not melt or run into each other. 

The 



MANUFACTURES OF FRANCE. 3Q5 

The (hades of the colours were much more 
delicate and clear than in thofe of Seve. 

In this arcade I alio found a number of 
things worthy of being named. A vafe of 
three feet in height, two fmailer ones, a 
foot in height each, two little blue and 
grey vafes of excellent workrnanfhip. 

Two groups of figures in bifcuit, two 
table-clock cafes, the bifcuit was beautiful, 
and of the pureit white. 

66th Arcade. Many iandfeapes, defigns 
in architecture, vafes, and other figures en- 
graved on copper plates by Defrance, which 
he calls tahleaux en creux, graves autour. 
This curious and excellent artift engraves 
the whole by a mechanical lathe, which 
imparts all the innumerable motions of the 
hand, and in many inftances .with greater 
fucceis and perfection. With this inftru- 
rnent he can engrave plates after any de- 
fign. He has alio a manufactory of fnuff- 
boxes of tortoife-fhell, and other compo* 
fition, for which he has found a very great 
demand. I expreffed a wifh to fee his 

lathe 




3Q y 6 PRESENT STATE OF THE 

lathe, which I fuppofe to be a mafter-piece 
in mechanifm ; he affured me that no one 
ever faw it, except his wife or children. 

67th Arcade. Perrin's metallic linen and 
gauze, or linen interwoven with ftcel 
threads. The texture beautiful, and of 
different degrees of fineneis. 

I was vcuy much pleafed with this new 
effort of the fhuttle, and am perfuaded this 
metallic tiffue will be found extremely ufe- 
ful in many branches of manufacture, fuch 
as lifting in the porcelain, glafs, and line 
carthernware. It may alfobe employed in 
the making of vellum paper, and paper of 
different kinds, fo as to render the tranf- 
verfe lines fcarce vifible. It isonlv neccf- 
fary to fend the ingenious inventor the 
meafure, which he executes to any length, 
breadth, or fineneis, at a reafonable price. 
The only articles in this collection that 
merited, in my opinion, peculiar diitinclion 
were the following : 

Bruguet's watch-work, particularly his 
echapement in the fecond arcade ; Deiar- 

nod's 



MANUFACTURES OP PRANCE. 3Q7 

nad's economical (loves and boilers, in the 
fixth arcade ; Berthier's fteel-work in the 
twentieth arcade ; fire-arms from Ver- 
faiiles, in the twenty-eighth arcade; Gre- 
mont's and Barre's printed cottons, in the 
fifteenth arcade ; Patte's white earthcrn 
or fione-ware, in the eleventh arcade ; fjie- 
cimens of the fiereotyne and ftereotvpic 
printing, by Pierre Didot, Fermin, Didot, 
and Louis Hcrhan, iri the fifty-eighth af- 
cade, Defranee's mechanical engravings 
in the fixty-fixth arcade, and finally, DehFs 
and Gerhard's porcelain, in the fixty-f 
arcade. 

The whole exhibition, however, is verf 
well worth viewing ■ be idea is new. 

Yon there fee many proofs of the tndaf- 
try and ingenuity of the nation. "Whoever 
views them with art impartial eye mufr, 
however, acknowledge that thev fall far 
fhort of that p n of which they are 

e ; but when c I with cifcurii- 

fiances, fuch as when lb manv artffts, 
rrfatiufadturers, &c; afe enrolled as con- 
T fqri] 



3Q8 PRESENT STATE OF THE 

fcripts, or fent to the armies, the general 
fcarcity of money, the want of encourage- 
ment, in confequence of the total extinc- 
tion of trade and local convulfion, it is 
matter of furprife that any thing worthy of 
public attention could be offered. Let 
France once enjoy the bleffings of peace : 
let the hufbandman fteer the plough in 
quiet, and reap the fruits of his own in- 
duftry, then manufacturers, handicrafts, 
commerce, and the fine arts, will daily ga- 
ther tfrength, fhoot forth, and ekpand into 
luxuriancy. Peace, I know, is the general 
wifh of the people, a wifh that is founded 
on good fen fe, and patriotifm and induilry 
will then contribute more to their real 
happinefs, than the fpleridicl but illufivc ac- 
quifition of ftates and provinces, and the 
folly of difleminating the feeds of republi- 
canifm in other countries. 

On the fifth complementary day, about 
eight o'clock in the evening, there was a 
general difeharge of artillery, and at nine 
another from the cannon planted before 

the 



MANUFACTURES OF FRANCE. 3QQ 

the palace of the Directory, and along the 
banks of the Seine. This difcharge was 
immediately followed by fix hundred rock- 
ets from the Pont-neuf, which afcended to 
a confiderable height, and formed a beau- 
tiful appearance in the air. The public of- 
fices and telegraphs were hung wilh lamp- 3 , 
lighted up with different colours, which 
had a very pleafing effect, as they were ar- 
ranged to the belt advantage. Glafs lamps 
are not ufed in thefe illuminations, but 
flat lamps of potter's earth from three to 
four inches. They are not filled with oil, 
but a fubftance prepared from the offals of 
oxen, calves, and lambs, which are pur- 
chafed in the flaughter-houfes for that pur- 
pofe. In ferene weather they burn very 
clear, but wind or rain immediately extiu- 
guifhes them. 

The 22d of September, 1798, was a pe- 
culiar feftival. There were rowing matches 
on the Seine, and wreftling in the Champ 
de Mars, for fmall prizes, fuch as ribbons, 
T 2 kc. 



400 TRESENT STATE OF THE 

&c. The victors were immediately le- 
velled with the prize, and fometimes car- 
ried off on the -fhuuklers of the populace 
in triumph, particularly if the conteft was 
long doubtful. In this lift I faw fourteen 
or fifteen young men, well formed by na- 
ture for fuch athletic excrcifes. 

This amufement was facceeded by the 
entrance of two chariots. Some of the 
victors of the 11th of July flood up- 
right in one, and fome of tbefe of the 
14th of Auguft in the other. A party 
with lighted brands fet fire to two figures 
of wood, the one reprefenting Defpotifm, 
and the other Fanaticifm> and then danced 
round the blaze. 

In the afternoon the Directory, Minif- 
ters, &c. afiemhled in the Military School, 
from whence they moved in proccflion in 
the fame order which I have already men- 
tioned on the fcafl in commemoration of 
the foundation of the Republic. A group 
vlrcdedin the cofhunc of the ancient Gauls 

walked 



MANUFACTURES OP PRANCE. 401 

walked before the Directory, with a banner 
containing the names of all the depart- 
ments. The following lines were written 
on the back of this fane : 

La Republique les a to us reunis, 
Cen'eft plus qu'un merae peuple. 

A trophy was borne on one fide of the de- 
partmental enfign, formed of the fhields of 
the Batavian, Cifalpine, Helvetic, and Ro- 
man Republics, with the following infcrip- 
tion : 

Que leur alliance avec le peuple Frangois 
foit eternelle. 

As foon as the proceffion had reached 
the altar, raifed to the genius of the coun- 
try, the departmental enfign, and the tro- 
phy of the allied republics, were placed at 
the foot of it, with great ceremony, accom- 
panied by a triumphal long. Treilhard, 
the prefident of the Directory, delivered a 
fpeech, in which he congratulated the 
French nation on the fuccefs of their arms, 
and the profpecl of returning peace. An 
ode was then fung, compofed for the oc- 
T 3 cafion, 



402 PRESENT STATE OF THE 

cation, the words by Chenier, and the 
muiic by Martin : 

A nctre coeur fenfible et brave 
Rien ne peut inipirer 1'errVoi : 
Ce qu'il halt le plus, c'eit un Roi ; 
Apres un Roi, c'efl un efclave 

Si nos aYeux furent long temps 
Sujets des rois, jouets des pretres ; 
Nous vivrons, nous et nos enfans, 
Et fans prejuges et fans maitres. 

: The prefident then read over the names 
of the citizens who had contributed to the 
liability or happinefs of the Republic in the 
eourfe of the preceding year, either by their 
perfonal bravery, patriotic eflays, inven- 
tions, induiiry, &c. All thofe were dif- 
tinctly repeated by a herald, who diftri- 
buted printed Hfis of the names to the cir- 
cle around him. 

Horfe and chariot racing followed next. 
Two horfes were remarkably fleet, one 
came from Normandy , and the other from 
Limoges. Thofe two won the honours of 
the eourfe. 

• The chariot races afforded the highefl: 
amufeinjnt ; they were built in the man- 
ner 



MANUFACTURES" CF FP.A NCE. 403 

net of the Roman triumphal cars/ with two 
wheels, and open behind. The charioteer 
ftood upright. Four ftarted; but the con- 
tention only lay betwixt two. One of the 
charioteers met with an accident. Lagrange, 
formerly an officer in the Huflars, who had 
fought with great gallantry againft thePrui- 
fians in Champagne, in attempting to reach 
the goal, he (truck his wheel again ft his ri- 
val's, by which he was pitched to a confider- 
able diftance, and received fo dangerous a 
wound in his head, that he was carried for 
dead out of the race ground. There were 
ten prizes diftributed, the large ft amounted 
to twelve hundred, and the leaft to eight 
hundred franks. Eight of thofe confifted 
of carabines, piftols, and fwords from the 
manufactory of Verfailles, one of porcelain 
manufactured m Seve, and the laft a ring 
and watch. 

The aeroftatic corps of Meudon, claimed 
a fli a re in the amufement of the day. An 
air balloon of thirty-one feet in diameter 
was launched, and afcended to the height 

of 



404 PRESENT STATE OF THE 

of about one hundred and fifty feet in the 
air, an aeroftatic officer fat in the. boat or 
car, and directed its courfe. A kind of 
fort or redoubt, compofcd of wood, was 
raifed in the middle of the field, the aerial 
navigator failed for fome time round it, and 
when he came dire&ly over it, threw a 
globe filled with combuftible matter into 
the fort, which inftantly enveloped the 
whole in flames. A glafs globe filled with 
phofphorus would be fufficient for this 
purpofe. 

The Directory now returned to the place 
from whence they fet out. 

The day was fine, and the novelty of 
the fucceffive fports drew an immenfe 
crowd of fpedlators, not lefs, I am fure, 
than two hundred thoufand, if not more. 
Government feems to know the Parifians 
well, and how eafily they may be managed 
with fpe6lac)es of this kind, like the Ro- 
mans, who only wifhed for bread and (hows, 
(panem et ciricetifes). Through the friend- 
ihip of the Danifh miniftcr ; Mr. Dreyers, I 

received 



MANUFACTURES OP FRANCE. 405 

received a ticket, by which I was admitted 
to the inner room in the Military School ; 
I had the good luck to get a place in one 
of the balconies where I found myfelf in 
company with the following ladies, Mef- 
dames Reubel, Treilhard, Bonaparte and 
her daughter, Simon, and Recamier. The 
two laft arc bankers' wives, and juftly 
famed for their beauty. Madame Bona- 
parte is very handfomc, more fo in my opi- 
nion than Madame Tallien. The accident 
which befel Lagrange affe<51ed Madame 
Tallien fo much, that (he almoft fainted as 
they carried him by the balcony. At night 
the illuminations were very general, and 
the lamps were difpofed in luch fymmetry, 
that the effedt was charming beyond what 
I have either time or language to defcribe. 



FINIS, 



v-.*»-~<>-»«:>-'<v"-<>-'« 



A NEW EDITION, 



Corrected ami reviled, in two Volumes duodecimo, 
Price its, in haftlst 

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 

OF TWO HUNT. tED OF THE 

Founders of [the French Hep\ 

Ai-,'D OF 

Other Perfons the roofl: diilinguKlieci 

in the • 

FROGKK8S OF THE RE 

Critical Opinions cf this V/crk. 

u We have only to obierve on the prefent Volume, that it 
is generally written with an elegar.ee and vivacity or ftyle 
which are peculiarly pleafing ; that the Anecdotes ^re ming- 
led with many judicious and feniiMe reflexions ; that the 
politics are free, hut temperate ; that the eftimate of cha- 
raclers is apparently impartial j and that it abounds with 
the mofr. interefting and entertaining matter. About a 
hundred and thirty characters are iketched in this popular 
Volume, and a very ufeful chart is prefixed of the prole no- 
tion* of parties in France from that of the BriiTotires in 
June, 1793, to that of the Royaliftsin September, 1797." 

Analytical Rwienv, 

Cl We can promife to our readers, whatever their political 
principles may be, confiderable amufement and information 
from this volume, which contains Anecdotes of above one 
hundred and thirty of the moll eminent perfona who 
*' ftrutted and fretted their d^y" upon the grand thratre < t 
Fiench politics. The author appears to have taken great 
pains to eolieel mateiials from the belt fburces."" 

Critical R11: 

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